Cells with stochastically increased methyltransferase to restriction endonuclease ratio provide an entry for bacteriophage into protected cell population.

ABSTRACT: The action of Type II restriction-modification (RM) systems depends on restriction endonuclease (REase), which cleaves foreign DNA at specific sites, and methyltransferase (MTase), which protects host genome from restriction by methylating the same sites. We here show that protection from phage infection increases as the copy number of plasmids carrying the Type II RM Esp1396I system is increased. However, since increased plasmid copy number leads to both increased absolute intracellular RM enzyme levels and to a decreased MTase/REase ratio, it is impossible to determine which factor determines resistance/susceptibility to infection. By controlled expression of individual Esp1396I MTase or REase genes in cells carrying the Esp1396I system, we show that a shift in the MTase to REase ratio c

SUBMITTER: Kirillov A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9757035 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature