The phasevarion: phase variation of type III DNA methyltransferases controls coordinated switching in multiple genes.
In several host-adapted pathogens, phase variation has been found to occur in genes that encode methyltransferases associated with type III restriction-modification systems. It was recently shown that in the human pathogens Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis phase variation of a type III DNA methyltransferase, encoded by members of the mod gene family, regulates the expression of multiple genes. This novel genetic system has been termed the 'phasevarion' (phase-variable regulon). The wide distribution of phase-variable mod family genes indicates that this may be a common strategy used by host-adapted bacterial pathogens to randomly switch between distinct cell types.
Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, 4222, Australia.
Yogitha N
YN
Srikhanta
Kate L
KL
Fox
Michael P
MP
Jennings
D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D018085:Regulon; D014774:Virulence
D015254:DNA Modification Methylases