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Type IV pili-related natural transformation systems: DNA transport in mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria

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Abstract

Horizontal gene flow is a driving force for bacterial adaptation. Among the three distinct mechanisms of gene transfer in bacteria, conjugation, transduction, and transformation, the latter, which includes competence induction, DNA binding, and DNA uptake, is perhaps the most versatile mechanism and allows the incorporation of free DNA from diverse bacterial species. Here we review DNA transport machineries mediating uptake of naked DNA in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Different putative models of transformation machineries comprising components similar to proteins of type IV pili are presented. Emphasis is placed on a comparative discussion of the underlying mechanisms of DNA transfer in mesophilic and extremely thermophilic bacteria, highlighting conserved and distinctive features of these transformation machineries.

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Acknowledgements

Work from the authors laboratory was supported by grants Av 9/4–4, Av/9/4–5 and Av9/5–1 from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. A. Friedrich was supported by the Stiftung Stipendien Fonds des Verbandes der Chemischen Industrie. The authors thank Nathan Weyand (Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon) for critically reading the manuscript.

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  1. Department Biologie I, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Maria-Ward-Strasse 1a, Bereich Genetik, 80638, Munich, Germany

    Beate Averhoff & Alexandra Friedrich

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  1. Beate Averhoff
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  2. Alexandra Friedrich
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Correspondence to Beate Averhoff.

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Averhoff, B., Friedrich, A. Type IV pili-related natural transformation systems: DNA transport in mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria. Arch Microbiol 180, 385–393 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-003-0616-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-003-0616-6

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