Diversity in a variable-number tandem repeat from Yersinia pestis.

ABSTRACT: We have identified a tetranucleotide repeat sequence, (CAAA)(N), in the genome of Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague. This variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) region has nine alleles and great diversity (calculated as 1 minus the sum of the squared allele frequencies) (diversity value, 0.82) within a set of 35 diverse Y. pestis strains. In contrast, the nucleotide sequence of the lcrV (low-calcium-response) gene differed only slightly among these strains, having a haplotype diversity value of 0.17. Replicated cultures, phenotypic variants of particular strains, and extensively cultured replicates within strains did not differ in VNTR allele type. Thus, while a high mutation rate must contribute to the great diversity of this locus, alleles appear stable under routine laborator

SUBMITTER: Adair DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC86479 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature