You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article

Identification and characterization of a Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum gene encoding a DNA adenine methyltransferase

  1. Lola V Stamm1,*,
  2. Shermalyn R Greene1,
  3. Natalie Y Barnes1,†,
  4. Heather L Bergen1,
  5. John M Hardham2,‡

Article first published online: 17 JAN 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb12694.x

Issue

FEMS Microbiology Letters

FEMS Microbiology Letters

Volume 155, Issue 1, pages 115–119, October 1997

Additional Information

How to Cite

Stamm, L. V., Greene, S. R., Barnes, N. Y., Bergen, H. L. and Hardham, J. M. (1997), Identification and characterization of a Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum gene encoding a DNA adenine methyltransferase. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 155: 115–119. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb12694.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Program in Infectious Diseases, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400, USA

  2. 2

    Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400, USA

  1. †

    1Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA.

  2. ‡

    Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77225, USA.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 (919) 966-3882; Fax: +1 (919) 966-2089; E-mail: lstamm@email.unc.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 17 JAN 2006
  2. Article first published online: 17 JAN 2006
  3. Received 11 July 1997, Accepted 31 July 1997

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (459K)

Keywords:

  • DNA methylation;
  • DNA adenine methyltransferase;
  • dam;
  • Syphilis;
  • Treponema pallidum

Abstract

The nucleotide sequence of a DNA adenine methyltransferase gene (dam) from Treponema pallidum has been determined. Southern blot analysis of T. pallidum chromosomal DNA indicated that this gene is present as a single copy. The dam gene encodes a 303 amino acid protein whose deduced sequence has significant homology with DNA (N6-adenine) methyltransferases. T. pallidum Dam can be assigned to group α DNA amino methyltransferases based on the order of nine conserved motifs that are present in the protein. Digests of T. pallidum chromosomal DNA performed with isoschizomer restriction endonucleases (Sau3AI, DpnI, and MboI) confirmed the presence of methylated adenine residues in GATC sequences (Dam+ phenotype).

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (459K)