Open AccessA Type III restriction–modification system in Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri
Author(s) -
Mikkel A. Algire,
Michael Montague,
Sanjay Vashee,
Carole Lartigue,
Chuck Merryman
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
open biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.078
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2046-2441
DOI - 10.1098/rsob.120115
Subject(s) - mycoplasma mycoides , biology , gene , genetics , methyltransferase , genome , microbiology and biotechnology , nucleic acid sequence , mycoplasma , methylation
The sequenced genome of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri revealed the presence of a Type III restriction–modification system (MmyCI). The methyltransferase (modification) subunit of MmyCI (M.MmyCI) was shown to recognize the sequence 5′-TGAG-3′ and methylate the adenine. The coding region of the methyltransferase gene contains 12 consecutive AG dinucleotide repeats that result in a translational termination at a TAA codon immediately beyond the repeat region. This strain does not have MmyCI activity. A clone was found with 10 AG repeats such that the gene is in frame, and this strain has MmyCI activity, suggesting that the expression of the MmyCI methyltransferase may be phase variable.