DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.17.7986. Role of pili and the phase-variable PilC protein in natural competence for transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Role of pili and the phase-variable PilC protein in natural competence for transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

10.1073/pnas.92.17.7986

Crossref journal-article

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (341)

Abstract

The Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae is naturally competent for transformation with species-related DNA. We show here that two phase-variable pilus-associated proteins, the major pilus subunit (pilin, or PilE) and PilC, a factor known to function in the assembly and adherence of gonococcal pili, are essential for transformation competence. The PilE and PilC proteins are necessary for the conversion of linearized plasmid DNA carrying the Neisseria-specific DNA uptake signal into a DNase-resistant form. The biogenesis of typical pilus fibers is neither essential nor sufficient for this process. DNA uptake deficiency of defined piliated pilC1,2 double mutants can be complemented by expression of a cloned pilC2 gene in trans. The PilC defect can also be restored by the addition of purified PilC protein, or better, pili containing PilC protein, to the mutant gonococci. Our data suggest that the two phase-variable Pil proteins act on the bacterial cell surface and cooperate in DNA recognition and/or outer membrane translocation.

Authors 6

T Rudel (first)
D Facius (additional)
R Barten (additional)
I Scheuerpflug (additional)
E Nonnenmacher (additional)
T F Meyer (additional)

References 0 Referenced 93

None

Dates

Type	When
Created	19 years, 3 months ago (May 31, 2006, 9:17 a.m.)
Deposited	3 years, 4 months ago (April 13, 2022, 1:54 p.m.)
Indexed	4 months, 2 weeks ago (April 17, 2025, 1:07 a.m.)
Issued	30 years ago (Aug. 15, 1995)
Published	30 years ago (Aug. 15, 1995)
Published Online	30 years ago (Aug. 15, 1995)
Published Print	30 years ago (Aug. 15, 1995)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Rudel_1995, title={Role of pili and the phase-variable PilC protein in natural competence for transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.}, volume={92}, ISSN={1091-6490}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.92.17.7986}, DOI={10.1073/pnas.92.17.7986}, number={17}, journal={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, publisher={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, author={Rudel, T and Facius, D and Barten, R and Scheuerpflug, I and Nonnenmacher, E and Meyer, T F}, year={1995}, month=aug, pages={7986–7990} }

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