Premium
Differential roles of homologous recombination pathways in Neisseria gonorrhoeae pilin antigenic variation, DNA transformation and DNA repair
Author(s) -
Mehr Ian J.,
Seifert H. Steven
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.1998.01089.x
Subject(s) - pilin , biology , pilus , antigenic variation , homologous recombination , genetics , dna , phase variation , gene , neisseria gonorrhoeae , dna repair , virulence
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gc) pili undergo antigenic variation when the amino acid sequence of the pilin protein is changed, aiding in immune avoidance and altering pilus expression. Pilin antigenic variation occurs by RecA‐dependent unidirectional transfer of DNA sequences from a silent pilin locus to the expressed pilin gene through high‐frequency recombination events that occur at limited regions of homology. We show that the Gc recQ and recO genes are essential for pilin antigenic and phase variation and DNA repair but are not involved in natural DNA transformation. This suggests that a RecF‐like pathway of recombination exists in Gc. In addition, mutations in the Gc recB , recC or recD genes revealed that a Gc RecBCD pathway also exists and is involved in DNA transformation and DNA repair but not in pilin antigenic variation.