Phasevarion mediated random switching of gene expression in Helicobacter Pylori

ABSTRACT: Many host-adapted bacterial pathogens contain DNA methyltransferases (mod genes) that are subject to phase-variable expression (high-frequency reversible ON/OFF switching of gene expression). In Haemophilus influenzae, Neissera Meningtidis and Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, the random switching of the modA gene, associated with a phase variable type III restriction modification (R-M) system, controls expression of a phase-variable regulon of genes (a M-bM-^@M-^\phasevarionM-bM-^@M-^]), via differential methylation of the genome in the modA ON and OFF states. Phase variable type III R-M systems are also found in Helicobacter pylori, suggesting that phasevarions may also exist in this intriguing pathogen. Phylogenetic studies on the phase-variable type III modC gene revealed that there are 12 distin

ORGANISM(S): Helicobacter pylori P12

SUBMITTER: Jason Steen 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-26759 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress