Influence of the spxB gene on competence in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Bättig, Patrick; Mühlemann, Kathrin (2008). Influence of the spxB gene on competence in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Journal of bacteriology, 190(4), pp. 1184-9. Washington, D.C.: American Society for Microbiology 10.1128/JB.01517-07

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In Streptococcus pneumoniae expression of pyruvate oxidase (SpxB) peaks during the early growth phase, coincident with the time of natural competence. This study investigated whether SpxB influences parameters of competence, such as spontaneous transformation frequency, expression of competence genes, and DNA release. Knockout of the spxB gene in strain D39 abolished spontaneous transformation (compared to a frequency of 6.3 x 10(-6) in the parent strain [P < 0.01]). It also reduced expression levels of comC and recA as well as DNA release from bacterial cells significantly during the early growth phase, coincident with the time of spontaneous competence in the parent strain. In the spxB mutant, supplementation with competence-stimulating peptide 1 (CSP-1) restored transformation (rate, 1.8 x 10(-2)). This speaks against the role of SpxB as a necessary source of energy for competence. Neither supplementation with CSP-1 nor supplementation with the SpxB products H2O2 and acetate altered DNA release. Supplementation of the parent strain with catalase did not reduce DNA release significantly. In conclusion, the pneumococcal spxB gene influences competence; however, the mechanism remains elusive.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute for Infectious Diseases

UniBE Contributor:

Bättig, Patrick, Mühlemann, Kathrin

ISSN:

0021-9193

ISBN:

18065543

Publisher:

American Society for Microbiology

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:56

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:17

Publisher DOI:

10.1128/JB.01517-07

PubMed ID:

18065543

Web of Science ID:

000253005800004

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/23941 (FactScience: 45290)

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