Open AccessDifferent restriction and modification phenotypes in ruminal lactate‐utilizing bacteria
Author(s) -
Piknova Maria,
Filova Miroslava,
Javorsky Peter,
Pristas Peter
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2004.tb09632.x
Subject(s) - restriction enzyme , biology , bacteria , methylation , enzyme , dna , bacteriophage , microbiology and biotechnology , strain (injury) , restriction map , isoschizomer , phenotype , genetics , dna methylation , biochemistry , plasmid , escherichia coli , gene , gene expression , anatomy
Analysis of restriction and modification activities in lactate‐utilizing bacteria belonging to the Megasphaera elsdenii and Mitsuokella multiacida species revealed the presence of GATC‐specific, MboI isospecific, restriction–modification (R–M) systems in all strains tested. While restriction endonucleases isolated from M. elsdenii strains were found to be sensitive to Dam methylation, enzymes from M. multiacida cleaved DNA irrespective of Dam methylation. The comparison of type II R–M systems specificities in three closely related lactate‐utilizing ruminal bacterial species indicated complete lack of restriction and/or modification enzymes previously characterized from Selenomonas ruminantium in tested M. elsdenii and M. multiacida strains. R–M systems are believed to represent the main defense tool against phage infection. Based on the results of our experiments it could be assumed that M. elsdenii and M. multiacida use the different strategy for bacteriophage protection compared to S. ruminantium .