Activation of r20-dependent recombination and horizontal gene transfer in Mycoplasma genitalium
Torres Puig, Sergi (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Bioquímica i de Biologia Molecular)
Martínez Torró, Carlos (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina "Vicent Villar Palasí")
Granero Moya, Ignasi (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina "Vicent Villar Palasí")
Querol Murillo, Enrique (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina "Vicent Villar Palasí")
Piñol Ribas, Jaume (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Bioquímica i de Biologia Molecular)
Pich, Òscar M. (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina "Vicent Villar Palasí")

Date:	2018
Abstract:	In the human pathogen Mycoplasma genitalium, homologous recombination is under the control of r, an alternative sigma factor that boosts the generation of genetic and antigenic diversity in the population. Under laboratory growth conditions, r activation is rare and the factors governing its intermittent activity are unknown. Two r-regulated genes, rrlA and rrlB, showed to be important for recombination of homologous DNA sequences in this bacterium. Herein, we demonstrate that rrlA and rrlB code for two small proteins that participate in a feed-forward loop essential for r function. In addition, we identify novel genes regulated by r and show that several non-coding regions, which function as a reservoir for the generation of antigenic diversity, are also activated by this alternative sigma factor. Finally, we reveal that M. genitalium cells can transfer DNA horizontally by a novel mechanism that requires RecA and is facilitated by r overexpression. This DNA transfer system is arguably fundamental for persistence of M. genitalium within the host since it could facilitate a rapid dissemination of successful antigenic variants within the population. Overall, these findings impose a novel conception of genome evolution, genetic variation and survival of M. genitalium within the host.
Grants:	Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BIO2013-48704-R Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BFU2013-50176-EXP
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Mycoplasma ; Sigma factor ; Homologous recombination ; Antigenic variation ; Horizontal gene transferS
Published in:	DNA research, Vol. 25, issue 4 (2018) , p. 383-393, ISSN 1756-1663

DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsy011
PMID: 29659762

11 p, 987.0 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles