DNA binding by the meningococcal RdgC protein, associated with pilin antigenic variation

J Bacteriol. 2004 Feb;186(3):870-4. doi: 10.1128/JB.186.3.870-874.2004.

Abstract

The RdgC protein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is required for efficient pilin antigenic variation, although its precise role has yet to be established. We demonstrate that the nearly identical RdgC from Neisseria meningitidis binds DNA with little specificity for sequence or structure, like the Escherichia coli protein. We also show that neither protein is able to constrain torsional tension in relaxed DNA. These data exclude several possible roles for RdgC in pilin antigenic variation and suggest that RdgC performs a similar function in both E. coli and the Neisseria spp.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antigenic Variation*
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / physiology
  • Fimbriae Proteins / immunology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • RdgC protein, E coli
  • Fimbriae Proteins
  • DNA