Abstract
Pathogens can use DNA recombination to promote antigenic variation (Av) of surface structures to avoid immune detection. We identified a cis-acting DNA sequence near the antigenically variable pilin locus of the human pathogen, Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This 16 - base pair guanine (G) - rich sequence was required for pilin Av and formed a guanine quartet (G4) structure in vitro. Individual mutations that disrupted the structure also blocked pilin Av and prevented nicks required for recombination from occurring within the G4 region. A compound that binds and stabilizes G4 structures also inhibited pilin Av and prevented nicks from occurring on the G-rich strand. This site constitutes a recombination initiation sequence/structure that directs gene conversion to a specific chromosomal locus.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 764-767 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Science |
Volume | 325 |
Issue number | 5941 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2009 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General