Download MendeleyA conserved nuclease facilitates environmental DNA uptake.
Hanssmann, J., Pane-Farre, J., Meiser, M., Girbig, M., Fu, L., Madej, M.G., Sendker, F.L., Tholken, C., Lechner, M., Ziegler, C., Hochberg, G.K.A., Bange, G., Thanbichler, M., Hinrichs, R.(2025) Nucleic Acids Res 53
- PubMed: 40421801
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkaf443
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
9H3F - PubMed Abstract:
Bacteria acquire new traits through the uptake of genetic material from the environment, a process requiring DNA processing. However, the molecular inventory mediating this process is far from being completely understood. Here, we identify YhaM in Bacillus subtilis as a conserved 3'-deoxyribonuclease essential for the uptake and processing of genetic information in the form of single-stranded DNA. Our results show that YhaM assembles into hexamers in the presence of divalent cations, enhancing substrate binding, which is achieved through its conserved oligonucleotide-binding domain. Cells lacking YhaM show a severe defect in the uptake of plasmids and genomic DNA, but the transduction of double-stranded DNA by the phage SPP1 remains unaffected. These findings highlight a critical role of YhaM in single-stranded DNA maturation during natural transformation. Importantly, this function is conserved in various Gram-positive human pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, suggesting that it could contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance.
- Department of Biology, University of Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
Organizational Affiliation:
