Increased expression of the type IV secretion system in piliated Neisseria gonorrhoeae variants.

ABSTRACT: Neisseria gonorrhoeae produces a type IV secretion system that secretes chromosomal DNA. The secreted DNA is active in the transformation of other gonococci in the population and may act to transfer antibiotic resistance genes and variant alleles for surface antigens, as well as other genes. We observed that gonococcal variants that produced type IV pili secreted more DNA than variants that were nonpiliated, suggesting that the process may be regulated. Using microarray analysis, we found that a piliated strain showed increased expression of the gene for the putative type IV secretion coupling protein TraD, whereas a nonpiliated variant showed increased expression of genes for transcriptional and translational machinery, consistent with its higher growth rate compared to that of the piliat

SUBMITTER: Salgado-Pabon W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2838043 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature