A mobile restriction-modification system provides phage defence and resolves an epigenetic conflict with an antagonistic endonuclease.

ABSTRACT: Epigenetic DNA methylation plays an important role in bacteria by influencing gene expression and allowing discrimination between self-DNA and intruders such as phages and plasmids. Restriction-modification (RM) systems use a methyltransferase (MTase) to modify a specific sequence motif, thus protecting host DNA from cleavage by a cognate restriction endonuclease (REase) while leaving invading DNA vulnerable. Other REases occur solitarily and cleave methylated DNA. REases and RM systems are frequently mobile, influencing horizontal gene transfer by altering the compatibility of the host for foreign DNA uptake. However, whether mobile defence systems affect pre-existing host defences remains obscure. Here, we reveal an epigenetic conflict between an RM system (PcaRCI) and a methylation-depe

SUBMITTER: Birkholz N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8989522 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature