DNA as a Nutrient: Novel Role for Bacterial Competence Gene Homologs
Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: The uptake and stable maintenance of extracellular DNA, genetic transformation, is universally recognized as a major force in microbial evolution. We show here that extracellular DNA, both homospecific and heterospecific, can also serve as the sole source of carbon and energy supporting microbial growth. Mutants unable to consume DNA suffer a significant loss of fitness during stationary-phase competition. In Escherichia coli, the use of DNA as a nutrient depends on homologs of proteins involved in natural genetic competence and transformation in Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Homologs of these E. coli genes are present in many members of the gamma subclass of Proteobacteria, suggesting that the mechanisms for consumption of DNA may have been widely conserved during evolution.
Source: Journal of Bacteriology
Authors: Steven E. Finkel, Roberto Kolter
Institutions: University of Southern California, Harvard University
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2106484287