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Related Experiment Videos

Eikenella corrodens phase variation involves a posttranslational event in pilus formation.

M T Villar1, J T Helber, B Hood

  • 1Division of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA.

Journal of Bacteriology
|July 10, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Eikenella corrodens phase variation involves type IV pili. Piliated variants form small colonies, while nonpiliated variants form large colonies. The study suggests post-translational regulation of pilin export and assembly controls this switch.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Eikenella corrodens, a human pathogen, exhibits phase variation.
  • This variation involves a switch between piliated (S-phase, small colonies) and nonpiliated (L-phase, large colonies) variants.
  • The molecular mechanisms underlying this phenotypic change remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular basis of phase variation in Eikenella corrodens.
  • To identify genetic elements and regulatory mechanisms controlling type IV pilus synthesis and assembly.

Main Methods:

  • Cloning and sequencing of the major type IV pilin gene locus (pilA locus) from S-phase variants.
  • DNA hybridization and Northern blot analysis to compare gene locus and transcript abundance between S- and L-phase variants.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Electron microscopy and immunochemical analysis to assess pilin synthesis, export, and assembly.

    • Main Results:

    • The pilA locus, containing pilA1, pilA2, pilB, and hagA ORFs, was identical in both S- and L-phase variants.
    • Transcription of the pilA locus was similar between phases, with abundant and read-through transcripts detected.
    • S-phase variants successfully synthesized, exported, and assembled pilin into type IV pili.
    • L-phase variants synthesized pilin but failed to export and assemble it into pili.

    Conclusions:

    • Phase variation in Eikenella corrodens is not due to alterations in the pilA locus sequence or transcription levels.
    • The switch is likely regulated at a post-translational level, specifically affecting pilin export and assembly.
    • This post-translational control mechanism is crucial for the phenotypic switching observed in E. corrodens.