A conserved nuclease facilitates environmental DNA uptake.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria acquire new traits through the uptake of genetic material from the environment, a process requiring DNA processing. However, the molecular inventory mediating this process is far from being completely understood. Here, we identify YhaM in Bacillus subtilis as a conserved 3'-deoxyribonuclease essential for the uptake and processing of genetic information in the form of single-stranded DNA. Our results show that YhaM assembles into hexamers in the presence of divalent cations, enhancing substrate binding, which is achieved through its conserved oligonucleotide-binding domain. Cells lacking YhaM show a severe defect in the uptake of plasmids and genomic DNA, but the transduction of double-stranded DNA by the phage SPP1 remains unaffected. These findings highlight a critical role of Y

SUBMITTER: Hanßmann J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12107432 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature