Nested DNA inversion as a paradigm of programmed gene rearrangement.
Programmed gene rearrangements are employed by a variety of microorganisms, including viruses, prokaryotes, and simple eukaryotes, to control gene expression. In most instances in which organisms mediate host evasion by large families of homologous gene cassettes, the mechanism of variation is not thought to involve DNA inversion. Here we report that Campylobacter fetus, a pathogenic Gram-negative bacterium, reassorts a single promoter, controlling surface-layer protein expression, and one or more complete ORFs strictly by DNA inversion. Rearrangements were independent of the distance between sites of inversion. These rearrangements permit variation in protein expression from the large surface-layer protein gene family and suggest an expanding paradigm of programmed DNA rearrangements among microorganisms.
Dworkin
J
J
Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Blaser
M J
MJ
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002168:Campylobacter fetus / Q000235:genetics*; D007446:Chromosome Inversion; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D015321:Gene Rearrangement / Q000235:genetics*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C055764:S-layer proteins