title: Differential roles of homologous recombination pathways in Neisseria gonorrhoeae pilin antigenic variation, DNA transformation and DNA repair.
abstract: Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gc) pili undergo antigenic variation when the amino acid sequence of the pilin protein is changed, aiding in immune avoidance and altering pilus expression. Pilin antigenic variation occurs by RecA-dependent unidirectional transfer of DNA sequences from a silent pilin locus to the expressed pilin gene through high-frequency recombination events that occur at limited regions of homology. We show that the Gc recQ and recO genes are essential for pilin antigenic and phase variation and DNA repair but are not involved in natural DNA transformation. This suggests that a RecF-like pathway of recombination exists in Gc. In addition, mutations in the Gc recB, recC or recD genes revealed that a Gc RecBCD pathway also exists and is involved in DNA transformation and DNA repair but not in pilin antigenic variation.
authors: Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors: I J
authors: IJ
authors: Mehr
authors: H S
authors: HS
authors: Seifert
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics; D004260:DNA Repair; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D043211:Exodeoxyribonuclease V; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases / Q000235:genetics; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000235:genetics*; D053484:RecQ Helicases; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C081006:RecO protein, E coli; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; D043211:Exodeoxyribonuclease V; C468322:exodeoxyribonuclease V, E coli; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C506724:RecQ protein, E coli; D004265:DNA Helicases; D053484:RecQ Helicases