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Effect of LexA on Chromosomal Integration of CTXϕ in Vibrio cholerae.

Author
Abstract
:

The genesis of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae involves acquisition of CTXϕ, a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) filamentous phage that encodes cholera toxin (CT). The phage exploits host-encoded tyrosine recombinases (XerC and XerD) for chromosomal integration and lysogenic conversion. The replicative genome of CTXϕ produces ssDNA by rolling-circle replication, which may be used either for virion production or for integration into host chromosome. Fine-tuning of different ssDNA binding protein (Ssb) levels in the host cell is crucial for cellular functioning and important for CTXϕ integration. In this study, we mutated the master regulator gene of SOS induction, lexA, of V. cholerae because of its known role in controlling levels of Ssb proteins in other bacteria. CTXϕ integration decreased in cells with a ΔlexA mutation and increased in cells with an SOS-noninducing mutation, lexA (Ind(-)). We also observed that overexpression of host-encoded Ssb (VC0397) decreased integration of CTXϕ. We propose that LexA helps CTXϕ integration, possibly by fine-tuning levels of host- and phage-encoded Ssbs.

Year of Publication
:
2016
Journal
:
Journal of bacteriology
Volume
:
198
Issue
:
2
Number of Pages
:
268-75
Date Published
:
2016
ISSN Number
:
0021-9193
URL
:
http://jb.asm.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=26503849
DOI
:
10.1128/JB.00674-15
Short Title
:
J Bacteriol
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