Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Peptide permeases modulate transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae

B J Pearce1, A M Naughton, H R Masure

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.

Molecular Microbiology
|June 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

A novel gene, plpA, identified in Streptococcus pneumoniae, is crucial for transformation efficiency. Mutations in plpA significantly reduce transformation, while ami mutations enhance it, suggesting a role for peptide transport in this process.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Ask Me! self-reported features of adolescents experiencing neglect or emotional maltreatment: a rapid systematic review.

Child: care, health and development·2017
Same author

A systematic review of the emotional, behavioural and cognitive features exhibited by school-aged children experiencing neglect or emotional abuse.

Child: care, health and development·2015
Same author

Use of a whole genome approach to identify vaccine molecules affording protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection.

Infection and immunity·2001
Same author

Role of novel choline binding proteins in virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Infection and immunity·2000
Same author

Socio-demographic variations in perspectives on cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors.

Health education research·1999
Same author

The type 2 capsule locus of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Journal of bacteriology·1999

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Bacterial transformation is a key process for genetic exchange and adaptation.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating transformation efficiency is crucial for microbial genetics.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is a model organism for studying transformation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify genes involved in regulating transformation efficiency in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • To characterize the function of a newly identified gene, plpA, in the transformation process.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic screening of Streptococcus pneumoniae mutants with defects in exported proteins.
  • Sequence analysis and gene reconstitution to identify and validate the plpA gene.
  • Construction of PlpA-PhoA fusions to assess membrane association and palmitoylation.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Phenotypic analysis of plpA and ami mutants to assess transformation efficiency, competence onset, and gene expression.

    • Main Results:

    • A mutant with a defect in plpA showed a 10-fold decrease in transformation efficiency.
    • plpA encodes a putative peptide permease, with similarities to AmiA and Spo0KA.
    • plpA mutants were >90% transformation deficient, while ami mutants showed increased transformation efficiency.
    • plpA mutation delayed competence onset and decreased expression of competence-regulated genes.

    Conclusions:

    • The plpA gene product, a peptide permease, plays a significant role in modulating Streptococcus pneumoniae transformation.
    • The interaction between substrate and permease likely regulates the transformation process.
    • AmiA and PlpA have opposing roles in transformation efficiency and competence development.