Characterization of DNA sequences required for the CcrAB-mediated integration of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec, a Staphylococcus aureus genomic island.

ABSTRACT: The mobile element staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), which carries mecA, the gene responsible for methicillin resistance in staphylococci, inserts into the chromosome at a specific site, attB, mediated by serine recombinases, CcrAB and CcrC, encoded on the element. This study sought to determine the sequence specificity for CcrB DNA binding in vitro and for CcrAB-mediated SCCmec insertion in vivo. CcrB DNA binding, as assessed in vitro by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), revealed that a 14-bp sequence (CGTATCATAAGTAA; the terminal sequence of the orfX gene) was the minimal requirement for binding, containing an invariant sequence (TATCATAA) found in all chromosomal (attB) and SCCmec (attS) integration sites. The sequences flanking the minimal attB and attS bindin

SUBMITTER: Wang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3256654 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature