Synthesis of FinP RNA by Plasmids F and pSLT Is Regulated by DNA Adenine Methylation

Corresponding author: Josep Casadesús, Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, Sevilla 41080, Spain., genbac{at}cica.es (E-mail)

Communicating editor: P. L. FOSTER

DNA adenine methylase mutants of Salmonella typhimurium contain reduced amounts of FinP, an antisense RNA encoded by the virulence plasmid pSLT. Lowered FinP levels are detected in both Dam^- FinO⁺ and Dam^- FinO^- backgrounds, suggesting that Dam methylation regulates FinP production rather than FinP half-life. Reduced amounts of F-encoded FinP RNA are likewise found in Dam^- mutants of Escherichia coli. A consequence of FinP RNA scarcity in the absence of DNA adenine methylation is that Dam^- mutants of both S. typhimurium and E. coli show elevated levels of F plasmid transfer. Inhibition of F fertility by the S. typhimurium virulence plasmid is also impaired in a Dam^- background.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Garcia-Quintanilla, F. Ramos-Morales, and J. Casadesus Conjugal Transfer of the Salmonella enterica Virulence Plasmid in the Mouse Intestine J. Bacteriol., March 15, 2008; 190(6): 1922 - 1927. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Vivero, R. C. Banos, J. F. Mariscotti, J. C. Oliveros, F. Garcia-del Portillo, A. Juarez, and C. Madrid Modulation of Horizontally Acquired Genes by the Hha-YdgT Proteins in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium J. Bacteriol., February 1, 2008; 190(3): 1152 - 1156. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. B. Garcia-Calderon, J. Casadesus, and F. Ramos-Morales Rcs and PhoPQ Regulatory Overlap in the Control of Salmonella enterica Virulence J. Bacteriol., September 15, 2007; 189(18): 6635 - 6644. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Zahrl, A. Wagner, M. Tscherner, and G. Koraimann GroEL Plays a Central Role in Stress-Induced Negative Regulation of Bacterial Conjugation by Promoting Proteolytic Degradation of the Activator Protein TraJ J. Bacteriol., August 15, 2007; 189(16): 5885 - 5894. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Balbontin, G. Rowley, M. G. Pucciarelli, J. Lopez-Garrido, Y. Wormstone, S. Lucchini, F. Garcia-del Portillo, J. C. D. Hinton, and J. Casadesus DNA Adenine Methylation Regulates Virulence Gene Expression in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium J. Bacteriol., December 1, 2006; 188(23): 8160 - 8168. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Garcia-Quintanilla, A. I. Prieto, L. Barnes, F. Ramos-Morales, and J. Casadesus Bile-Induced Curing of the Virulence Plasmid in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium J. Bacteriol., November 15, 2006; 188(22): 7963 - 7965. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Casadesus and D. Low Epigenetic Gene Regulation in the Bacterial World Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., September 1, 2006; 70(3): 830 - 856. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Alonso, M. G. Pucciarelli, N. Figueroa-Bossi, and F. Garcia-del Portillo Increased Excision of the Salmonella Prophage ST64B Caused by a Deficiency in Dam Methylase J. Bacteriol., December 1, 2005; 187(23): 7901 - 7911. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Gubbins, I. Lau, W. R. Will, J. M. Manchak, T. L. Raivio, and L. S. Frost The Positive Regulator, TraJ, of the Escherichia coli F Plasmid Is Unstable in a cpxA* Background J. Bacteriol., October 15, 2002; 184(20): 5781 - 5788. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. G. Pucciarelli, A. I. Prieto, J. Casadesus, and F. Garcia-del Portillo Envelope instability in DNA adenine methylase mutants of Salmonella enterica Microbiology, April 1, 2002; 148(4): 1171 - 1182. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Low, N. J. Weyand, and M. J. Mahan Roles of DNA Adenine Methylation in Regulating Bacterial Gene Expression and Virulence Infect. Immun., December 1, 2001; 69(12): 7197 - 7204. [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Garcia-Del Portillo, M. G. Pucciarelli, and J. Casadesus DNA adenine methylase mutants of Salmonella typhimurium show defects in protein secretion, cell invasion, and M cell cytotoxicity PNAS, September 28, 1999; 96(20): 11578 - 11583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]