Molecular Mechanisms of hsdS Inversions in the cod Locus of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), a major human pathogen, is well known for its adaptation to various host environments. Multiple DNA inversions in the three DNA methyltransferase hsdS genes (hsdS_A, hsdS_B, and hsdS_C) of the colony opacity determinant (cod) locus generate extensive epigenetic and phenotypic diversity. However, it is unclear whether all three hsdS genes are functional and how the inversions mechanistically occur. In this work, our transcriptional analysis revealed active expression of hsdS_A but not hsdS_B and hsdS_C, indicating that hsdS_B and hsdS_C do not produce functional proteins and instead act as

SUBMITTER: Li JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6398273 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature