Open AccessMolecular analysis of the UV‐inducible pili operon from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
Author(s) -
Wolferen Marleen,
Ajon Małgorzata,
Driessen Arnold J. M.,
Albers SonjaVerena
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
microbiologyopen
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.881
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 2045-8827
DOI - 10.1002/mbo3.128
Subject(s) - sulfolobus acidocaldarius , pilus , operon , pilin , sulfolobus , biology , dna , gene cluster , exonuclease , gene , genetics , escherichia coli , archaea , polymerase
Upon ultraviolet (UV) stress, hyperthermophilic Sulfolobus species show a highly induced transcription of a gene cluster responsible for pili biogenesis: the UV‐inducible pili operon ( ups operon). This operon is involved in UV‐induced pili assembly, cellular aggregation, and subsequent DNA exchange between cells. As the system increases the fitness of Sulfolobus cells after UV light exposure, we assume that transfer of DNA takes place in order to repair UV‐induced DNA damages via homologous recombination. Here, we studied all genes present in the ups cluster via gene deletion analysis with a focus on UpsX, a protein that shows no identifiable functional domains. UspX does not seem to be structurally essential for UV‐induced pili formation and cellular aggregation, but appears to be important for efficient DNA transfer. In addition, we could show that pilin subunits UpsA and UpsB probably both function as major pilin subunits in the ups pili.