Viral SPP1 DNA is infectious in naturally competent Bacillus subtilis cells: inter- and intramolecular recombination pathways.

Serrano, E. , Ramos, C., Ayora, S. and Alonso, J. C. (2020) Viral SPP1 DNA is infectious in naturally competent Bacillus subtilis cells: inter- and intramolecular recombination pathways. Environmental Microbiology, 22(2), pp. 714-725. (doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.14908) (PMID:31876108)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

A proteolyzed bacteriophage (phage) might release its DNA into the environment. Here, we define the recombination functions required to resurrect an infective lytic phage from inactive environmental viral DNA in naturally competent Bacillus subtilis cells. Using phage SPP1 DNA, a model that accounts for the obtained data is proposed (i) the DNA uptake apparatus takes up environmental SPP1 DNA, fragments it, and incorporates into the cytosol different linear single‐stranded (ss) DNA molecules shorter than genome‐length; (ii) the SsbA‐DprA mediator loads RecA onto any fragmented linear SPP1 ssDNA, but negative modulators (RecX and RecU) promote a net RecA disassembly from these ssDNAs not homologous to the host genome; (iii) single strand annealing (SSA) proteins, DprA and RecO, anneal the SsbA‐ or SsbB‐coated complementary strands, yielding tailed SPP1 duplex intermediates; (iv) RecA polymerized on these tailed intermediates invades a homologous region in another incomplete molecule, and in concert with RecD2 helicase, reconstitutes a complete linear phage genome with redundant regions at the ends of the molecule; and (v) DprA, RecO or viral G35P SSA, may catalyze the annealing of these terminally redundant regions, alone or with the help of an exonuclease, to produce a circular unit‐length duplex viral genome ready to initiate replication.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Serrano, Dr Ester
Authors: Serrano, E., Ramos, C., Ayora, S., and Alonso, J. C.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Environmental Microbiology
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1462-2912
ISSN (Online):1462-2920
Published Online:25 December 2019

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record