ComF is a key mediator in single-stranded DNA transport and handling during natural transformation

Prashant Damke (1) , Louisa Celma (2) , Sumedha Kondekar (1) , Anne Marie Di Guilmi (1) , Stephanie Marsin (2) , Jordane Depagne (1) , Xavier Veaute (1) , Pierre Legrand (3) , Hélène Walbott (2) , Julien Vercruyssen (2) , Raphael Guerois (2) , Sophie Quevillon-Cheruel (2) , J. Pablo Radicella (1)

1 JACOB - Institut de Biologie François JACOB
2 I2BC - Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule
3 SSOLEIL - Synchrotron SOLEIL

Natural transformation plays a major role in the spreading of antibiotic resistances and virulence factors. Whilst bacterial species display specificities in the molecular machineries allowing transforming DNA capture and integration into their genome, the ComF(C) protein is essential for natural transformation in all Gram- positive and - negative species studied. Despite this, its role remains largely unknown. Here, we show that Helicobacter pylori ComF is not only involved in DNA transport through the cell membrane, but it also required for the handling of the ssDNA once it is delivered into the cytoplasm. ComF crystal structure revealed the presence of a zinc-finger motif and a putative phosphoribosyl transferase domain, both necessary for its in vivo activity. ComF is a membrane-associated protein with affinity for single-stranded DNA. Collectively, our results suggest that ComF provides the link between the transport of the transforming DNA into the cytoplasm and its handling by the recombination machinery.

Domaines: Biochimie, Biologie Moléculaire; Biologie structurale [q-bio.BM]; Biologie cellulaire

Prashant Damke, Louisa Celma, Sumedha Kondekar, Anne Marie Di Guilmi, Stephanie Marsin, et al.. ComF is a key mediator in single-stranded DNA transport and handling during natural transformation. 2021. ⟨hal-03316262⟩