title: Distribution and biological role of the oligopeptide-binding protein (OppA) in Xanthomonas species.
abstract: In this study we investigated the prevalence of the oppA gene, encoding the oligopeptide binding protein (OppA) of the major bacterial oligopeptide uptake system (Opp), in different species of the genus Xanthomonas. The oppA gene was detected in two Xanthomonas axonopodis strains among eight tested Xanthomonas species. The generation of an isogenic oppA-knockout derivative of the Xac 306 strain, showed that the OppA protein neither plays a relevant role in oligopeptide uptake nor contributes to the infectivity and multiplication of the bacterial strain in leaves of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia). Taken together these results suggest that the oppA gene has a recent evolutionary history in the genus and does not contribute in the physiology or pathogenesis of X. axonopodis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisa E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Oshiro
authors.forename: Milene B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Celso F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.forename: Claudia B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Angeli
authors.forename: Julio C F
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Maria I T
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Luis C S
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Rita C C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ferreira