Natural competence for DNA transformation by Legionella pneumophila and its association with expression of type IV pili.
We have recently described the expression of two pili of different lengths on the surface of Legionella pneumophila (B. J. Stone and Y. Abu Kwaik, Infect. Immun. 66:1768-1775, 1998). Production of long pili requires a functional pilEL locus, encoding a type IV pilin protein. Since type IV pili in Neisseria gonorrhoeae are associated with competence for DNA transformation, we examined the competence of L. pneumophila for DNA transformation under conditions that allowed the expression of type IV pili. We show that L. pneumophila is naturally competent for DNA transformation by isogenic chromosomal DNA and by plasmid DNA containing L. pneumophila DNA. Many different L. pneumophila loci are able to transform L. pneumophila after addition of plasmid DNA, including gspA, ppa, asd, and pilEL. The transformation frequency is reduced when competing DNA containing either L. pneumophila DNA or vector sequences is added to the bacteria, suggesting that uptake-specific sequences may not be involved in DNA uptake. Competence for DNA transformation correlates with expression of the type IV pili, and a pilEL mutant defective in expression of type IV pili is not competent for DNA transformation. Complementation of the mutant for competence is restored by the reintroduction of a cosmid that restores production of type IV pili. Minimal competence is restored to the mutant by introduction of pilEL alone. We conclude that competence for DNA transformation in L. pneumophila is associated with expression of the type IV pilus and results in recombination of L. pneumophila DNA into the chromosome. Since expression of type IV pili also facilitates attachment of L. pneumophila to mammalian cells and protozoa, we designated the type IV pili CAP (for competence- and adherence-associated pili).
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0084, USA.
B J
BJ
Stone
Y A
YA
Kwaik
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000235:genetics*; D018933:Pili, Sex / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C090745:global stress protein A, bacteria; C074063:pilE protein, Neisseria gonorrhoeae; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins