Brucella abortus ure2 region contains an acid-activated urea transporter and a nickel transport system.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Urease is a virulence factor that plays a role in the resistance of Brucella to low pH conditions, both in vivo and in vitro. Brucella contains two separate urease gene clusters, ure1 and ure2. Although only ure1 codes for an active urease, ure2 is also transcribed, but its contribution to Brucella biology is unknown.

Results

Re-examination of the ure2 locus showed that the operon includes five genes downstream of ureABCEFGDT that are orthologs to a nikKMLQO cluster encoding an ECF-type transport system for nickel. ureT and nikO mutants were constructed and analyzed for urease activity and acid resistance. A non-polar ureT mutant was unaffected in urease activity at neutral pH but showed a significantly decreased activity at acidic pH. It also showed a decreased s

SUBMITTER: Sangari FJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2868824 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature