An H-NS-like stealth protein aids horizontal DNA transmission in bacteria.
The Sfh protein is encoded by self-transmissible plasmids involved in human typhoid and is closely related to the global regulator H-NS. We have found that Sfh provides a stealth function that allows the plasmids to be transmitted to new bacterial hosts with minimal effects on their fitness. Introducing the plasmid without the sfh gene imposes a mild H-NS(-) phenotype and a severe loss of fitness due to titration of the cellular pool of H-NS by the A+T-rich plasmid. This stealth strategy seems to be used widely to aid horizontal DNA transmission and has important implications for bacterial evolution.
Doyle
Marie
M
Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. cjdorman@tcd.ie
Fookes
Maria
M
Ivens
Al
A
Mangan
Michael W
MW
Wain
John
J
Dorman
Charles J
CJ
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D009068:Movement; D010957:Plasmids; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D012763:Shigella flexneri / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014774:Virulence
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C031908:H-NS protein, bacteria