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Updated: Aug 25, 2025

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Diverse Roles for a Conserved DNA-Methyltransferase in the Entomopathogenic Bacterium Xenorhabdus

Nadège Ginibre1, Ludovic Legrand2, Victoria Bientz1

  • 1DGIMI, INRAE, Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|October 14, 2022
PubMed

Insights

This study identifies the Dam DNA-adenine methyltransferase (MTase) in Xenorhabdus bacteria, finding it highly conserved and responsible for GATC motif methylation. Dam overexpression impacts motility and hemolysis but not virulence.

Area of Science:

  • Bacteriology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • DNA methylation is crucial in bacteria, mediated by DNA methyltransferases (MTases).
  • The entomopathogenic bacteria Xenorhabdus genus was investigated for MTase encoding genes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize MTases in Xenorhabdus species.
  • To investigate the function and impact of Dam DNA-adenine MTase (Dam MTase) on bacterial phenotypes.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify MTase genes.
  • Methylome analysis to determine Dam MTase target sites (GATC motifs).
  • Gene overexpression studies to assess phenotypic changes.

Main Results:

  • A single conserved MTase, Dam DNA-adenine MTase, was identified across Xenorhabdus species.
  • Dam MTase methylated GATC motifs at >99% in studied strains, with unmethylated motifs in promoter regions suggesting epigenetic regulation.
  • Overexpression of Dam MTase impaired motility (via flagellar gene downregulation) and hemolysis, but did not affect virulence.

Conclusions:

  • Dam MTase plays a significant role in regulating bacterial gene expression and phenotypes beyond simple methylation.
  • The findings contribute to understanding the diverse functions of MTases in bacterial biology and epigenetics.
Keywords:
DamMTaseX. kozodoiiX. nematophilamethylome

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