RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Boyle-Vavra, Susan A1 Seifert, H. StevenYR 1996 T1 Uptake-sequence-independent DNA transformation exists in Neisseria gonorrhoeae JF Microbiology, VO 142 IS 10 SP 2839 OP 2845 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/13500872-142-10-2839 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2080, AB A DNA transformation dose-response curve of piliated (P+) gonococci with the use of cloned DNA containing a pilE2-cat fusion showed saturation at high and low levels of transforming DNA. At low DNA concentrations, transformation of the P+ strain MS11-A was effectively inhibited by a 1000-fold molar excess of the gonococcal transformation uptake sequence (GCUS). The same molar excess of the GCUS did not inhibit transformation of MS11-A at high DNA concentrations. In MS11-B2, a nonpiliated (P−), pilin-nonproducing, isogenic variant of MS11-A, the GCUS did not inhibit transformation at any level of transforming DNA. These data suggest that two mechanisms of transformation exist in P+ cells: one which utilizes the GCUS and one which does not. In MS11-B2 P− cells, no evidence was found for the presence of the GCUS-dependent mechanism, suggesting that transformation in this background occurs solely by the GCUS-independent mechanism., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/13500872-142-10-2839