Slipped-strand mispairing can function as a phase variation mechanism in Escherichia coli.
Slipped-strand mispairing (SSM) has not been identified as a mechanism of phase variation in Escherichia coli. Using a reporter gene, we show that sequences that cause phase variation by SSM in Haemophilus influenzae also lead to phase variation when introduced onto the chromosome of E. coli, and the frequencies of switching are in the biologically relevant range. Thus, the absence of SSM-mediated phase variation in E. coli does not appear to be due to a mechanistic constraint.
Torres-Cruz
Joshua
J
Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
van der Woude
Marjan W
MW
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic