Lv. Stamm et al., IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A TREPONEMA-PALLIDUM SUBSP PALLIDUM GENE ENCODING A DNA ADENINE METHYLTRANSFERASE, FEMS microbiology letters, 155(1), 1997, pp. 115-119
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 deduc
ed sequence has significant homology with DNA (N-6-adenine) methyltran
sferases. T. pallidum Dam can be assigned to group a DNA amino methylt
ransferases based on the order of nine conserved motifs that are prese
nt in the protein. Digests of T. pallidum chromosomal DNA performed wi
th isoschizomer restriction endonucleases (Sau3AI, DpnI, and MboI) con
firmed the presence of methylated adenine residues in GATC sequences (
Dam(+) phenotype).