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Förster M, Rathmann I, Yüksel M, Power JJ, Maier B. Genome-wide transformation reveals extensive exchange across closely related Bacillus species. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:12352-12366. [PMID: 37971327 PMCID: PMC10711437 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial transformation is an important mode of horizontal gene transfer that helps spread genetic material across species boundaries. Yet, the factors that pose barriers to genome-wide cross-species gene transfer are poorly characterized. Here, we develop a replacement accumulation assay to study the effects of genomic distance on transfer dynamics. Using Bacillus subtilis as recipient and various species of the genus Bacillus as donors, we find that the rate of orthologous replacement decreases exponentially with the divergence of their core genomes. We reveal that at least 96% of the B. subtilis core genes are accessible to replacement by alleles from Bacillus spizizenii. For the more distantly related Bacillus atrophaeus, gene replacement events cluster at genomic locations with high sequence identity and preferentially replace ribosomal genes. Orthologous replacement also creates mosaic patterns between donor and recipient genomes, rearranges the genome architecture, and governs gain and loss of accessory genes. We conclude that cross-species gene transfer is dominated by orthologous replacement of core genes which occurs nearly unrestricted between closely related species. At a lower rate, the exchange of accessory genes gives rise to more complex genome dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Förster
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Zülpicherstr. 47a, 50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Isabel Rathmann
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Zülpicherstr. 47a, 50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Melih Yüksel
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Zülpicherstr. 47a, 50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Jeffrey J Power
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Zülpicherstr. 47a, 50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Berenike Maier
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Zülpicherstr. 47a, 50674 Köln, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Biochemical Properties and Roles of DprA Protein in Bacterial Natural Transformation, Virulence, and Pilin Variation. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0046522. [PMID: 36695594 PMCID: PMC9945497 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00465-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural transformation enables bacteria to acquire DNA from the environment and contributes to genetic diversity, DNA repair, and nutritional requirements. DNA processing protein A (DprA) receives incoming single-stranded DNA and assists RecA loading for homology-directed natural chromosomal transformation and DNA strand annealing during plasmid transformation. The dprA gene occurs in the genomes of all known bacteria, irrespective of their natural transformation status. The DprA protein has been characterized by its molecular, cellular, biochemical, and biophysical properties in several bacteria. This review summarizes different aspects of DprA biology, collectively describing its biochemical properties, molecular interaction with DNA, and function interaction with bacterial RecA during natural transformation. Furthermore, the roles of DprA in natural transformation, bacterial virulence, and pilin variation are discussed.
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Ramos C, Hernández-Tamayo R, López-Sanz M, Carrasco B, Serrano E, Alonso JC, Graumann PL, Ayora S. The RecD2 helicase balances RecA activities. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:3432-3444. [PMID: 35234892 PMCID: PMC8989531 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA helicases of the RecD2 family are ubiquitous. Bacillus subtilis RecD2 in association with the single-stranded binding protein SsbA may contribute to replication fork progression, but its detailed action remains unknown. In this work, we explore the role of RecD2 during DNA replication and its interaction with the RecA recombinase. RecD2 inhibits replication restart, but this effect is not observed in the absence of SsbA. RecD2 slightly affects replication elongation. RecA inhibits leading and lagging strand synthesis, and RecD2, which physically interacts with RecA, counteracts this negative effect. In vivo results show that recD2 inactivation promotes RecA–ssDNA accumulation at low mitomycin C levels, and that RecA threads persist for a longer time after induction of DNA damage. In vitro, RecD2 modulates RecA-mediated DNA strand-exchange and catalyzes branch migration. These findings contribute to our understanding of how RecD2 may contribute to overcome a replicative stress, removing RecA from the ssDNA and, thus, it may act as a negative modulator of RecA filament growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Ramos
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, 28049Madrid, Spain
| | - Rogelio Hernández-Tamayo
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE-Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 6, 35043 Marburg, Germany.,Fachbereich Chemie, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 4, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - María López-Sanz
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, 28049Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Carrasco
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, 28049Madrid, Spain
| | - Ester Serrano
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, 28049Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan C Alonso
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, 28049Madrid, Spain
| | - Peter L Graumann
- SYNMIKRO, LOEWE-Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 6, 35043 Marburg, Germany.,Fachbereich Chemie, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 4, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Silvia Ayora
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, 28049Madrid, Spain
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Serrano E, Torres R, Alonso JC. Nucleoid-associated Rok differentially affects chromosomal transformation on Bacillus subtilis recombination-deficient cells. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:3318-3331. [PMID: 33973337 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rok, a Bacillus subtilis nucleoid-associated protein (NAP), negatively regulates competence development and silences xenogeneic genes. We show that rok inactivation increases rpoB482 natural intraspecies chromosomal transformation (CT) and plasmid transformation to a different extent. In ΔaddAB, ΔrecO, recF15, ΔrecU, ΔruvAB or rec+ cells intraspecies CT significantly increases, but the ΔrecD2 mutation reduces, and the ΔrecX, ΔradA or ΔdprA mutation further decreases CT in the Δrok context when compared to rok+ cells. These observations support the idea that rok inactivation, by altering the topology of the recipient DNA, differentially affects the integration of homologous DNA in rec-deficient strains, and in minor extent the competent subpopulation size. The impairment of other NAP (Hbsu or LrpC) also increased intra- and interspecies CT (nonself-DNA, ~8% nucleotide sequence divergence) in rec+ cells, but differentially reduced both types of CTs in certain rec-deficient strains. We describe that rok inactivation significantly stimulates intra and interspecies CT but differentially reduces them in transformation-deficient cells, perhaps by altering the nucleoid architecture. We extend the observation to other NAPs (Hbsu, LrpC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Serrano
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CNB-CSIC, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Rubén Torres
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CNB-CSIC, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Juan C Alonso
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CNB-CSIC, Madrid, 28049, Spain
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