scholarly journals Characterization of the NgoAXP: phase-variable type III restriction–modification system inNeisseria gonorrhoeae

2009 ◽  
Vol 300 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Adamczyk-Poplawska ◽  
MichaÅ‚ Lower ◽  
Andrzej Piekarowicz
Keyword(s):  
Phase Variable ◽  
Modification System ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Variable Type

scholarly journals Transcriptional Phase Variation of a Type III Restriction-Modification System in Helicobacter pylori

2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (23) ◽  
pp. 6615-6623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolette de Vries ◽  
Dirk Duinsbergen ◽  
Ernst J. Kuipers ◽  
Raymond G. J. Pot ◽  
Patricia Wiesenekker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Phase Variation ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Length Variation ◽  
Phase Variable ◽  
Modification System ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Restriction Modification System ◽  
H Pylori ◽  
Restriction Modification

ABSTRACT Phase variation is important in bacterial pathogenesis, since it generates antigenic variation for the evasion of immune responses and provides a strategy for quick adaptation to environmental changes. In this study, a Helicobacter pylori clone, designated MOD525, was identified that displayed phase-variable lacZ expression. The clone contained a transcriptional lacZ fusion in a putative type III DNA methyltransferase gene (mod, a homolog of the gene JHP1296 of strain J99), organized in an operon-like structure with a putative type III restriction endonuclease gene (res, a homolog of the gene JHP1297), located directly upstream of it. This putative type III restriction-modification system was common in H. pylori, as it was present in 15 out of 16 clinical isolates. Phase variation of the mod gene occurred at the transcriptional level both in clone MOD525 and in the parental H. pylori strain 1061. Further analysis showed that the res gene also displayed transcriptional phase variation and that it was cotranscribed with the mod gene. A homopolymeric cytosine tract (C tract) was present in the 5′ coding region of the res gene. Length variation of this C tract caused the res open reading frame (ORF) to shift in and out of frame, switching the res gene on and off at the translational level. Surprisingly, the presence of an intact res ORF was positively correlated with active transcription of the downstream mod gene. Moreover, the C tract was required for the occurrence of transcriptional phase variation. Our finding that translation and transcription are linked during phase variation through slipped-strand mispairing is new for H. pylori.

scholarly journals Streptococcus suis encodes multiple allelic variants of a phase-variable Type III DNA methyltransferase, ModS, that control distinct phasevarions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Tram ◽  
Freda E.-C. Jen ◽  
Zachary N. Phillips ◽  
Jamie Timms ◽  
Asma-Ul Husna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Dna Methyltransferase ◽  
Streptococcus Suis ◽  
Phase Variable ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Allelic Variants ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Variable Type ◽  
Epigenetic Gene Regulation

AbstractStreptococcus suis is a significant cause of bacterial meningitis in humans, particularly in S.E. Asia, and is a leading cause of respiratory and invasive disease in pigs. Phase-variable DNA methyltransferases, associated with Restriction-Modification (R-M) systems, are a source of epigenetic gene regulation, controlling the expression of multiple genes. These systems are known as phasevarions (phase-variable regulons), and have been characterised in many host-adapted bacterial pathogens. We recently described the presence of a Type III DNA methyltransferase in S. suis, ModS, which contains a simple sequence repeat (SSR) tract within the open reading frame of the modS gene, and which varied in length between individual strains. We also observed multiple allelic variants of the modS gene were present in a population of S. suis isolates. Here, we demonstrate that a biphasic ON-OFF switching of expression occurs in the two most common ModS alleles, ModS1 and ModS2, and that switching is dependent on SSR tract length. Further, we show that ModS1 and ModS2 are active methyltransferases in S. suis using Single-Molecule, Real Time (SMRT) sequencing. ON-OFF switching of each ModS allele results in the regulation of distinct phasevarions, with the ModS2 phasevarion impacting growth patterns and antibiotic resistance. This is the first demonstration of a phase-variable Type III DNA methyltransferase in a Gram-positive organism that controls a phasevarion. Characterising the phenotypic effects of phasevarions in S. suis is key to understanding pathogenesis and the development of future vaccines.ImportanceStreptococcus suis is a causative agent of meningitis, polyarthritis and polyserositis in swine, and is a major cause of zoonotic meningitis in humans. Here we investigate epigenetic gene regulation in S. suis by multiple phasevarions controlled by the phase-variable Type III DNA methyltransferase ModS. This is the first characterised example of a Type III R-M system regulating a phasevarion in a Gram-positive organism. We demonstrate that biphasic ON-OFF switching of ModS expression results in differences in bacterial growth and antibiotic resistance. Understanding the effects of ModS phase variation is required to determine the stably expressed antigenic repertoire of S. suis, which will direct and inform the development of antimicrobial treatments and vaccines against this important pathogen.

scholarly journals Streptococcus suis Encodes Multiple Allelic Variants of a Phase-Variable Type III DNA Methyltransferase, ModS, That Control Distinct Phasevarions

mSphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Tram ◽  
Freda E.-C. Jen ◽  
Zachary N. Phillips ◽  
Jamie Timms ◽  
Asma-Ul Husna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Dna Methyltransferase ◽  
Streptococcus Suis ◽  
Phase Variable ◽  
Allelic Variants ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Variable Type ◽  
Epigenetic Gene Regulation

ABSTRACT Streptococcus suis is a significant cause of bacterial meningitis in humans, particularly in Southeast Asia, and is a leading cause of respiratory and invasive disease in pigs. Phase-variable DNA methyltransferases, associated with restriction-modification (R-M) systems, are a source of epigenetic gene regulation, controlling the expression of multiple genes. These systems are known as phasevarions (phase-variable regulons) and have been characterized in many host-adapted bacterial pathogens. We recently described the presence of a Type III DNA methyltransferase in S. suis, ModS, which contains a simple sequence repeat (SSR) tract within the open reading frame of the modS gene and which differed in length between individual strains. We also observed that multiple allelic variants of the modS gene were present in a population of S. suis isolates. Here, we demonstrate that a biphasic ON-OFF switching of expression occurs in the two most common ModS alleles, ModS1 and ModS2, and that switching is dependent on SSR tract length. Furthermore, we show using single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing that ModS1 and ModS2 are active methyltransferases in S. suis. ON-OFF switching of each ModS allele results in the regulation of distinct phasevarions, with the ModS2 phasevarion impacting growth patterns and antibiotic resistance. This is the first demonstration of a phase-variable Type III DNA methyltransferase in a Gram-positive organism that controls a phasevarion. Characterizing the phenotypic effects of phasevarions in S. suis is key to understanding pathogenesis and the development of future vaccines. IMPORTANCE Streptococcus suis is a causative agent of meningitis, polyarthritis, and polyserositis in swine, and it is a major cause of zoonotic meningitis in humans. Here, we investigate epigenetic gene regulation in S. suis by multiple phasevarions controlled by the phase-variable Type III DNA methyltransferase ModS. This is the first characterized example of a Type III R-M system regulating a phasevarion in a Gram-positive organism. We demonstrate that biphasic ON-OFF switching of ModS expression results in differences in bacterial growth and antibiotic resistance. Understanding the effects of ModS phase variation is required to determine the stably expressed antigenic repertoire of S. suis, which will direct and inform the development of antimicrobial treatments and vaccines against this important pathogen.

scholarly journals A Type III restriction–modification system in Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri

Open Biology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (10) ◽  
pp. 120115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikkel A. Algire ◽  
Michael G. Montague ◽  
Sanjay Vashee ◽  
Carole Lartigue ◽  
Chuck Merryman
Keyword(s):  
Phase Variable ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Dinucleotide Repeats ◽  
Modification System ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Restriction Modification System ◽  
Mycoplasma Mycoides ◽  
Methyltransferase Gene ◽  
Translational Termination ◽  
Restriction Modification

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.

Characterization of Partial Gene Deletions in Type III von Willebrand Disease with Alloantibody Inhibitors

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (02) ◽  
pp. 180-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J Mancuso ◽  
Elodee A Tuley ◽  
Ricardo Castillo ◽  
Norma de Bosch ◽  
Pler M Mannucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Von Willebrand Factor ◽  
Von Willebrand Disease ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Gene Deletions ◽  
Factor Gene ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Large Deletions ◽  
Von Willebrand ◽  
Willebrand Factor

Summaryvon Willebrand factor gene deletions were characterized in four patients with severe type III von Willebrand disease and alloantibodies to von Willebrand factor. A PCR-based strategy was used to characterize the boundaries of the deletions. Identical 30 kb von Willebrand factor gene deletions which include exons 33 through 38 were identified in two siblings of one family by this method. A small 5 base pair insertion (CCTGG) was sequenced at the deletion breakpoint. PCR analysis was used to detect the deletion in three generations of the family, including two family members who are heterozygous for the deletion. In a second family, two type III vWD patients, who are distant cousins, share an -56 kb deletion of exons 22 through 43. The identification and characterization of large vWF gene deletions in these type III vWD patients provides further support for the association between large deletions in both von Willebrand factor alleles and the development of inhibitory alloantibodies.

scholarly journals Characterization of Phospholipase Activity of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type III Cytotoxin, ExoU

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (3) ◽  
pp. 1192-1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiromi Sato ◽  
Jimmy B. Feix ◽  
Cecilia J. Hillard ◽  
Dara W. Frank
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Substrate Specificity ◽  
Yeast Extract ◽  
Enzyme Activation ◽  
Phospholipase Activity ◽  
Eukaryotic Protein ◽  
Type Iii

ABSTRACT Recombinant ExoU (rExoU) and yeast extract were used to optimize an in vitro phospholipase assay as a basis for identifying the mechanism for enzyme activation and substrate specificity. Our results support a model in which a eukaryotic protein cofactor or complex facilitates the interaction of rExoU with phospholipid substrates.

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