title: Role of pili and the phase-variable PilC protein in natural competence for transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
abstract: The Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae is naturally competent for transformation with species-related DNA. We show here that two phase-variable pilus-associated proteins, the major pilus subunit (pilin, or PilE) and PilC, a factor known to function in the assembly and adherence of gonococcal pili, are essential for transformation competence. The PilE and PilC proteins are necessary for the conversion of linearized plasmid DNA carrying the Neisseria-specific DNA uptake signal into a DNase-resistant form. The biogenesis of typical pilus fibers is neither essential nor sufficient for this process. DNA uptake deficiency of defined piliated pilC1,2 double mutants can be complemented by expression of a cloned pilC2 gene in trans. The PilC defect can also be restored by the addition of purified PilC protein, or better, pili containing PilC protein, to the mutant gonococci. Our data suggest that the two phase-variable Pil proteins act on the bacterial cell surface and cooperate in DNA recognition and/or outer membrane translocation.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Biologie, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rudel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Facius
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barten
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Scheuerpflug
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nonnenmacher
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D012294:Rifamycins; C079208:pilC protein, Neisseria gonorrhoeae; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins