Role of the Small Terminase Subunit Encoded by Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenicity Island SaPI1 in Formation of SaPI1 Transducing Particles

Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity island SaPI1 is a genomic element that is mobilized and transduced at high frequency by helper phage 80α. SaPI1 encodes a small terminase protein that belongs to the phage small terminase subunit family. The presence of SaPI1-encoded small terminase suggests that it plays a role in SaPI1-specific packaging into transducing particles by complexing with the 80α large terminase subunit and redirecting recognition to a pac site on SaPI1 DNA from 80α DNA. The effects of deleting the small terminase genes in SaPI1 and in a prophage copy of 80α are consistent with this hypothesis. Induction of the 80α small terminase deletion mutant produces wild type levels of SaPI1 transducing particles, demonstrating that SaPI1 small terminase can replace that of 80a in SaPI1 packaging. Southern blot analysis of virion DNAs isolated from the deletion mutants confirms that SaPI1 redirects packaging of its DNA into SaPI1-sized capsids.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2008

Author dc:creator

• Olivarez, Nicholas Paul

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Gail E. Christie

• helper phage
• Staphylococcus aureus
• phage
• terminase
• DNA packaging
• Biology
• Life Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• © The Author

Identifier

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/934

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-1933