Host cell contact-induced transcription of the type IV fimbria gene cluster of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

ABSTRACT: Type IV pili (Tfp) of gram-negative species share many characteristics, including a common architecture and conserved biogenesis pathway. Much less is known about the regulation of Tfp expression in response to changing environmental conditions. We investigated the diversity of Tfp regulatory systems by searching for the molecular basis of the reported variable expression of the Tfp gene cluster of the pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Despite the presence of an intact Tfp gene cluster consisting of four genes, apfABCD, no Tfp were formed under standard growth conditions. Sequence analysis of the predicted major subunit protein ApfA showed an atypical alanine residue at position -1 from the prepilin peptidase cleavage site in 42 strains. This alanine deviates from the consensus gly

SUBMITTER: Boekema BK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC321578 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature