An alternative DNA structure is necessary for pilin antigenic variation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 19661435.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/science.1175653 and PMC identifier 2803317.
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Abstract
Pathogens can use DNA recombination to promote antigenic variation (Av) of surface structures to avoid immune detection. We identified a cis-acting DNA sequence near the antigenically variable pilin locus of the human pathogen, Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This 16-base pair guanine (G)-rich sequence was required for pilin Av and formed a guanine quartet (G4) structure in vitro. Individual mutations that disrupted the structure also blocked pilin Av and prevented nicks required for recombination from occurring within the G4 region. A compound that binds and stabilizes G4 structures also inhibited pilin Av and prevented nicks from occurring on the G-rich strand. This site constitutes a recombination initiation sequence/structure that directs gene conversion to a specific chromosomal locus.
Medical subject headings
- Antigenic Variation
- DNA, Bacterial
- Fimbriae Proteins
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae