Characterization of the NgoAXP: phase-variable type III restriction-modification system in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Methyltransferases associated with type III restriction-modification (RM) systems are phase-variably expressed in a variety of pathogenic bacteria. NgoAXP, the type III RM system encoded by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, was characterized in this study. The cloned resngoAXP and ngoAXPmod genes were expressed in Escherichia coli strains. The restriction and modification activities of NgoAXP were confirmed in vivo by the lambda phage restriction and modification test and in vitro by the methylation of DNA substrates in the presence of [methyl-(3)H]AdoMet. As in all known type III systems, the restriction activity needed the presence of both genes, while the presence of the ngoAXPmod gene was sufficient for DNA methylation. Following its overexpression, the DNA methyltransferase M.NgoAXP was purified to apparent homogeneity using metal affinity chromatography. The specific sequence recognized by this enzyme was determined as a nonpalindromic sequence: 5'-CCACC-3', in which the adenine residue is methylated. We observed that in E. coli cells, the expression of the restriction phenotype associated with NgoAXP switched randomly. This phase variation was associated with the change in the number of pentanucleotide repeats (5'-CCAAC/G-3') present at the 5'-end of the coding region of the ngoAXPmod gene.