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PMID: 12949093 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Natural transformation of Campylobacter jejuni requires components of a type II secretion system.

Journal of bacteriology ·Vol. 185 ·No. 18 ·2003-09-00 ·Pages 5408-18

Wiesner RS, Hendrixson DR, DiRita VJ

Abstract

The human pathogen Campylobacter jejuni is one of more than 40 naturally competent bacterial species able to import macromolecular DNA from the environment and incorporate it into their genomes. However, in C. jejuni little is known about the genes involved in this process. We used random transposon mutagenesis to identify genes that are required for the transformation of this organism. We isolated mutants with insertions in 11 different genes; most of the mutants are affected in the DNA uptake stage of transformation, whereas two mutants are affected in steps subsequent to DNA uptake, such as recombination into the chromosome or in DNA transport across the inner membrane. Several of these genes encode proteins homologous to those involved in type II secretion systems, biogenesis of type IV pili, and competence for natural transformation in gram-positive and gram-negative species. Other genes identified in our screen encode proteins unique to C. jejuni or are homologous to proteins that have not been shown to play a role in the transformation in other bacteria.

MeSH Terms
Amino Acid Sequence Bacterial Proteins/genetics,metabolism Campylobacter jejuni/genetics,physiology DNA/pharmacokinetics DNA Transposable Elements Gene Library Genes, Bacterial Genetic Techniques Molecular Sequence Data Mutagenesis, Insertional Mutation Open Reading Frames Sequence Homology, Amino Acid Transformation, Bacterial
Chemicals
Bacterial Proteins DNA Transposable Elements DNA
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Wiesner Rebecca S
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0620, USA.
Hendrixson David R
DiRita Victor J
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Article Info
Journal
Journal of bacteriology
Abbr.
J Bacteriol
ISSN
0021-9193
DOI
10.1128/JB.185.18.5408-5418.2003
Published
2003-09-00
Pages
5408-18
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
2985120R
PMCID
PMC193740
Subset
IM
Databases
GENBANK
AY324656, AY324657
Corrections
ErratumIn
-
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1128/JB.185.18.5408-5418.2003 PMC Full Text View journal details
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