title: The Bacillus megaterium comE locus encodes a functional DNA uptake protein.
abstract: From Bacillus megaterium, a genomic region was isolated and structurally characterized which strongly resembles the Bacillus subtilis competence locus comE encoding proteins involved in DNA uptake. Functionality of the B. megaterium comEA gene was proven by complementing a DNA-receptor mutant of B. subtilis. This finding provides first evidence for a latent ability of B. megaterium to develop natural competence, although such physiological state has not as yet been identified in this organism.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 3, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lammers
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nahrstedt
authors.forename: Friedhelm
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meinhardt
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000235:genetics*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics; D001692:Biological Transport; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial