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The molecular basis of FimT-mediated DNA uptake during bacterial natural transformation
Many bacteria can take up exogenous DNA, in a process that often requires surface appendages composed of thousands of protein subunits called pilins. Here, Braus et al. show that a minor pilin binds directly to DNA and is important for DNA uptake in the pathogen Legionella pneumophila.
- Sebastian A. G. Braus
- , Francesca L. Short
- & Manuela K. Hospenthal
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Article
| Open Access
Acinetobacter baylyi regulates type IV pilus synthesis by employing two extension motors and a motor protein inhibitor
Type IV pili (T4P) are retractile appendages used by bacteria for DNA uptake and other purposes. T4P extension is thought to occur through the action of a single motor protein, PilB. Here, Ellison et al. show that T4P synthesis in Acinetobacter baylyi depends not only on PilB but also on an additional, distinct motor, TfpB.
- Courtney K. Ellison
- , Triana N. Dalia
- & Ankur B. Dalia
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Article
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The circadian clock and darkness control natural competence in cyanobacteria
The cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus is a model organism for the study of circadian rhythms, and is naturally competent for transformation. Here, Taton et al. identify genes required for natural transformation in this organism, and show that the coincidence of circadian dusk and darkness regulates the competence state in different day lengths.
- Arnaud Taton
- , Christian Erikson
- & Susan S. Golden
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Article
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Antibiotic sensitivity reveals that wall teichoic acids mediate DNA binding during competence in Bacillus subtilis
Natural genetic transformation in bacteria requires DNA binding at the surface of competent cells. Here, Mirouze et al. show that wall teichoic acids are specifically produced or modified during competence in Bacillus subtilis and promote (directly or indirectly) DNA binding at the cell surface.
- Nicolas Mirouze
- , Cécile Ferret
- & Rut Carballido-López
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Article
| Open Access
Genome-wide analysis of chromosomal import patterns after natural transformation of Helicobacter pylori
Uptake and integration of exogenous DNA into the bacterial genome play an important role in the evolution of the pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Here, the authors describe a bimodal pattern of chromosomal integration and show how restriction-modification systems limit the import of heterologous DNA.
- Sebastian Bubendorfer
- , Juliane Krebes
- & Sebastian Suerbaum
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The 40-residue insertion in Vibrio cholerae FadR facilitates binding of an additional fatty acyl-CoA ligand
FadR is a regulator of fatty acid metabolism in bacteria, and contains a binding site for acyl-CoA. Here, Shi et al. present a structure of V. cholerae FadR and show that a unique C-terminal extension comprises a second acyl-CoA binding site, perhaps rendering V. choleraeFadR a more efficient regulator.
- Wei Shi
- , Gabriela Kovacikova
- & F. Jon Kull
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Horizontal gene transfer converts non-toxigenic Clostridium difficile strains into toxin producers
Clostridium difficile produces potent toxins that are encoded by its pathogenicity locus. Here, Brouwer et al. demonstrate surprising bacterial genome plasticity whereby the pathogenicity locus is transferred from toxigenic to non-toxigenic strains of C. difficileby conjugational transfer.
- Michael S.M. Brouwer
- , Adam P. Roberts
- & Peter Mullany
The induction of natural competence adapts staphylococcal metabolism to infection