Phase variable DNA repeats in Neisseria gonorrhoeae influence transcription, translation, and protein sequence variation
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
There are many types of repeated DNA sequences in the genomes of the species of the genus Neisseria, from homopolymeric tracts to tandem repeats of hundreds of bases. Some of these have roles in the phase-variable expression of genes. When a repeat mediates phase variation, reversible switching between tract lengths occurs, which in the species of the genus Neisseria most often causes the gene to switch between on and off states through frame shifting of the open reading frame. Changes in repeat tract lengths may also influence the strength of transcription from a promoter. For phenotypes that can be readily observed, such as expression of the surface-expressed Opa proteins or pili, verification that repeats are mediating phase variation is relatively straightforward. For other genes, particularly those where the function has not been identified, gathering evidence of repeat tract changes can be more difficult. Here we present analysis of the repetitive sequences that could mediate phase variation in the Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain NCCP11945 genome sequence and compare these results with other gonococcal genome sequences. Evidence is presented for an updated phase-variable gene repertoire in this species, including a class of phase variation that causes amino acid changes at the C-terminus of the protein, not previously described in N. gonorrhoeae.
Date Issued
2016-08-25
Date Acceptance
2016-07-08
Citation
Microbial Genomics, 2016, 2 (8)
ISSN
2057-5858
Publisher
Microbiology Society
Journal / Book Title
Microbial Genomics
Volume
2
Issue
8
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The Authors. This is an open access article published by the Microbiology Society under the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ast).
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000431154000010&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Genetics & Heredity
Microbiology
gonococcus
phase variation
C-terminal variation
homopolymeric tract
simple sequence repeats
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
000078
Date Publish Online
2016-08-25