Identification, characterization, and variable expression of a naturally occurring inhibitor protein of IS1106 transposase in clinical isolates of Neisseria meningitidis
P. Salvatore et al., Identification, characterization, and variable expression of a naturally occurring inhibitor protein of IS1106 transposase in clinical isolates of Neisseria meningitidis, INFEC IMMUN, 69(12), 2001, pp. 7425-7436
Transposition plays a role in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of Neisseri
a meningitidis. Insertion sequences are involved in reversible capsulation
and insertional inactivation of virulence genes encoding outer membrane pro
teins. In this study, we have investigated and identified one way in which
transposon IS1106 controls its own activity. We have characterized a natura
lly occurring protein (Tip) that inhibits the transposase. The inhibitor pr
otein is a truncated version of the IS1106 transposase lacking the NH2-term
inal DNA binding sequence, and it regulates transposition by competing with
the transposase for binding to the outside ends of IS1106, as shown by gel
shift and in vitro transposition assays. IS1106Tip mRNA is variably expres
sed among serogroup B meningococcal clinical isolates, and it is absent in
most collection strains belonging to hypervirulent lineages.