Sau1: a novel lineage-specific type I restriction-modification system that blocks horizontal gene transfer into Staphylococcus aureus and between S. aureus isolates of different lineages.

ABSTRACT: The Sau1 type I restriction-modification system is found on the chromosome of all nine sequenced strains of Staphylococcus aureus and includes a single hsdR (restriction) gene and two copies of hsdM (modification) and hsdS (sequence specificity) genes. The strain S. aureus RN4220 is a vital intermediate for laboratory S. aureus manipulation, as it can accept plasmid DNA from Escherichia coli. We show that it carries a mutation in the sau1hsdR gene and that complementation restored a nontransformable phenotype. Sau1 was also responsible for reduced conjugative transfer from enterococci, a model of vancomycin resistance transfer. This may explain why only four vancomycin-resistant S. aureus strains have been identified despite substantial selective pressure in the clinical setting. Using a m

SUBMITTER: Waldron DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1540015 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature