Cj0683 Is a Competence Protein Essential for Efficient Initialization of DNA Uptake in Campylobacter jejuni.

ABSTRACT: C. jejuni is an important food-borne pathogen displaying high genetic diversity, substantially based on natural transformation. The mechanism of DNA uptake from the environment depends on a type II secretion/type IV pilus system, whose components are partially known. Here, we quantified DNA uptake in C. jejuni at the single cell level and observed median transport capacities of approximately 30 kb per uptake location. The process appeared to be limited by the initialization of DNA uptake, was finite, and, finalized within 30 min of contact to DNA. Mutants lacking either the outer membrane pore PilQ or the inner membrane channel ComEC were deficient in natural transformation. The periplasmic DNA binding protein ComE was negligible for DNA uptake, which is in contrast to its pr

SUBMITTER: Golz JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10046745 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature