title: Characterization of genes encoding topoisomerase IV of Mycoplasma genitalium.
abstract: A type-II toposiomerase (Topo-IV) encoded by the parC and parE genes in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium is thought to be involved in cell septation and in the decatenation of newly replicated chromosomes. We have identified parC and parE homologs in the pleomorphic, wall-less organism Mycoplasma genitalium. Since the mechanics of cell septation in conventional eubacterial species is believed to be mediated by cell-wall constituents, there is no clear understanding of what coordinates that process in wall-less species. The presence of par genes in this bacterium, which has the smallest genome of any free-living organism, suggests that Topo-IV has been evolutionarily conserved because of an essential role in mediating cell division.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Younkins
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Bott
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D027081:DNA Gyrase; D027101:DNA Topoisomerase IV; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D027101:DNA Topoisomerase IV; D027081:DNA Gyrase; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II