Characterization and transcriptional analysis of two gene clusters for type IV secretion machinery in Wolbachia of Armadillidium vulgare
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Wolbachia are maternally inherited alpha-proteobacteria that induce feminization of genetic males in most terrestrial crustacean isopods. Two clusters of vir genes for a type IV secretion machinery have been identified at two separate loci and characterized for the first time in a feminizing Wolbachia. Furthermore, we demonstrated that these operons are transcriptionally active in ovaries and in all other tissues tested, suggesting that T4SS has a significant role in Wolbachia biology. These observations and the identification of homologous vir genes in Wolbachia strains infecting insects or nematodes show that vir genes are conserved among Wolbachia strains whatever the phenotype induced by the bacteria.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Research in Microbiology |
Volume | 159 |
Issue number | 6 |
Pages (from-to) | 481-5 |
Number of pages | 4 |
ISSN | 0923-2508 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Bibliographical note
Keywords: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Biological Transport; Female; Feminization; Isopoda; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Multigene Family; Transcription, Genetic; Wolbachia
ID: 9513081