Unveiling electrotransformation of Moraxella catarrhalis as a process of natural transformation

Meier, Patricia Stutzmann; Troller, Rolf; Heiniger, Nadja; Hays, John P; van Belkum, Alex; Aebi, Christoph (2006). Unveiling electrotransformation of Moraxella catarrhalis as a process of natural transformation. FEMS microbiology letters, 262(1), pp. 72-6. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00365.x

Preview

Text 262-1-72.pdf - Published Version Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (86kB) | Preview

The human respiratory tract pathogen Moraxella catarrhalis is a naturally competent microorganism. However, electrotransformation has long been used to introduce foreign DNA into this organism. This study demonstrated that electrotransformants obtained with linear or circular nonreplicating plasmid DNA originated exclusively from natural transformation processes taking place during the recovery phase after the application of current. Only replicating plasmid DNA could be introduced into M. catarrhalis by electrotransformation, in a type IV pilus-independent manner. Electrotransformation with homologous genomic DNA indicated that restriction of double-stranded DNA was independent of type III restriction-methylation systems. Nontransformability of M. catarrhalis by electrotransformation was observed using double- as well as single-stranded DNA. In addition, the study showed that natural competence is a very constant feature of M. catarrhalis.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

115 since deposited on 04 Oct 2013
26 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item