The Unconventional Xer Recombination Machinery of Streptococci/Lactococci
Author Information
Author(s): Le Bourgeois Pascal, Bugarel Marie, Campo Nathalie, Daveran-Mingot Marie-Line, Labonté Jessica, Lanfranchi Daniel, Lautier Thomas, Pagès Carine, Ritzenthaler Paul
Primary Institution: Laboratoire de Microbiologie et Génétique Microbienne, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
Hypothesis
Do Streptococci and Lactococci possess an alternative Xer recombination system?
Conclusion
Streptococci and Lactococci have a unique Xer recombination system that uses a single recombinase, XerS, and an atypical dif site.
Supporting Evidence
- Streptococci and Lactococci have a single recombinase, XerS, for their Xer recombination system.
- The difSL site is an atypical 31-bp sequence that differs from the canonical dif site found in E. coli.
- XerS/difSL can resolve chromosome dimers in E. coli as efficiently as the native XerCD/dif system.
- FtsKSL protein localizes at the division septum and is involved in XerS/difSL recombination.
- XerS requires the presence of chromosome dimers for efficient recombination.
- XerS/difSL recombination is independent of the interaction with FtsK.
Takeaway
Bacteria have a way to fix their DNA when it gets tangled, and this study found that some bacteria use a different method than others to do this.
Methodology
Comparative genomics and functional analyses were performed in Lactococcus lactis and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Limitations
The study did not provide direct experimental data demonstrating that XerS/difSL is involved in chromosome dimer resolution in Streptococci.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.003
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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