A transposase-independent mechanism gives rise to precise excision of IS256 from insertion sites in Staphylococcus epidermidis.
The mobile element IS256 causes phase variation of biofilm formation in Staphylococcus epidermidis by insertion and precise excision from the icaADBC operon. Precise excision, i.e., removal of the target site duplications (TSDs) and restoration of the original DNA sequence, occurs rarely but independently of functional transposase. Instead, the integrity of the TSDs is crucial for precise excision. Excision increased significantly when the TSDs were brought into closer spatial proximity, suggesting that excision is a host-driven process that might involve most likely illegitimate recombination.
Universität Würzburg, Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie, Röntgenring 11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
Susanne
S
Hennig
Wilma
W
Ziebuhr
D001665:Binding Sites; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019895:Transposases / Q000378:metabolism*
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D019895:Transposases