Site-Specific Recombination - How Simple DNA Inversions Produce Complex Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Bacterial Populations.
Trends Genet
; 37(1): 59-72, 2021 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33008627
ABSTRACT
Many bacterial species generate phenotypically heterogeneous subpopulations as a strategy for ensuring the survival of the population as a whole - an environmental stress that eradicates one subpopulation may leave other phenotypic groups unharmed, allowing the lineage to continue. Phase variation, a process that functions as an ON/OFF switch for gene expression, is one way that bacteria achieve phenotypic heterogeneity. Phase variation occurs stochastically and reversibly, and in the presence of a selective pressure the advantageous phenotype(s) predominates in the population. Phase variation can occur through multiple genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. This review focuses on conservative site-specific recombination that generates reversible DNA inversions as a genetic mechanism mediating phase variation. Recent studies have sparked a renewed interest in phase variation mediated through DNA inversion, revealing a high level of complexity beyond simple ON/OFF switching, including unusual modes of gene regulation, and highlighting an underappreciation of the use of these mechanisms by bacteria.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Fenotipo
/
Recombinación Genética
/
Bacterias
/
Proteínas Bacterianas
/
ADN Bacteriano
/
Epigénesis Genética
/
Inversión Cromosómica
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Trends Genet
Asunto de la revista:
GENETICA
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos