Multiple Mechanisms of Phase Variation of PorA in Neisseria meningitidis
Open Access
- 1 December 2000
- journal article
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in Infection and Immunity
- Vol. 68 (12), 6685-6690
- https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.68.12.6685-6690.2000
Abstract
Previously, we reported that PorA expression in Neisseria meningitidis is modulated by variation in the length of the homopolymeric tract of guanidine residues between the −35 and −10 regions of the promoter or by deletion of porA . To reveal additional mechanisms of variation in PorA expression, the meningococcal isolates from 41 patients and 19 carriers were studied. In addition, at least 3 meningococcal isolates from different body parts of each of 11 patients were analyzed. Sequence analysis of the porA promoter showed that the spacer between the −35 and −10 regions varies in length between 14 and 24 bp. PorA expression was observed in strains with a porA promoter spacer of 16 to 24 bp. All but one strain with a porA promoter spacer of 16 to 20 bp and undetectable PorA expression have a homopolymeric tract of 8 or 6 instead of 7 adenine residues in the porA coding region. The other PorA-negative strain had a single-base-pair deletion in the coding region. The highest level of PorA expression was observed in strains with a promoter spacer of 17 or 18 bp. PorA expression was reduced twofold in strains with a porA promoter spacer of 16 or 19 bp. Strains with a 16-bp promoter spacer with substitutions in the polyguanidine tract displayed increased levels of PorA expression compared to strains with a homopolymeric tract of guanidine residues in the porA promoter. In conclusion, meningococci display multiple mechanisms for varying PorA expression.Keywords
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