Molecular dissection of pheromone selectivity in the competence signaling system ComRS of streptococci.

ABSTRACT: Competence allows bacteria to internalize exogenous DNA fragments for the acquisition of new phenotypes such as antibiotic resistance or virulence traits. In most streptococci, competence is regulated by ComRS signaling, a system based on the mature ComS pheromone (XIP), which is internalized to activate the (R)RNPP-type ComR sensor by triggering dimerization and DNA binding. Cross-talk analyses demonstrated major differences of selectivity between ComRS systems and raised questions concerning the mechanism of pheromone-sensor recognition and coevolution. Here, we decipher the molecular determinants of selectivity of the closely related ComRS systems from Streptococcus thermophilus and Streptococcus vestibularis Despite high similarity, we show that the divergence in ComR-XIP

SUBMITTER: Ledesma-Garcia L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7149491 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature