ArticlePLoS genetics2014
ComEA is essential for the transfer of external DNA into the periplasm in naturally transformable Vibrio cholerae cells.
Article in PLoS genetics, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 68 papers.
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Who cites it
68 citing papers in PubMed, 116 citations in OpenAlex.
- Two D-loop resolution systems enable natural genetic transformation in bacteria.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026Article
- Spatiotemporal coordination of virulence, metabolism, and stress responses shapes infection dynamics ofApplied and environmental microbiology · 2026Article
- Unveiling a missing component of the atypical type IV secretion system required for natural transformation of Helicobacter pylori.PLoS pathogens · 2026Article
- Structural modeling reveals the mechanism of motor ATPase coordination during type IV pilus retraction.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026Article
- Host Factor Induced Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles Promote Horizontal Gene Transfer in Vibrio cholerae.Journal of extracellular vesicles · 2026Article
- Unveiling a missing component of the atypical type IV secretion system required for natural transformation ofbioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Reversible DNA condensation drives natural transformation.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Complete genome sequence ofMicrobiology resource announcements · 2025Article
- Molecular interplay between ComEC domains allows for selective degradation of the non-translocating strand during natural transformation.Nucleic acids research · 2025Article
- Article
- The molecular basis for DNA-binding by competence T4P is distinct in a representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative species.PLoS pathogens · 2025Article
- SbcB facilitates natural transformation inJournal of bacteriology · 2025Article
- Naturally competent bacteria and their genetic parasites-a battle for control over horizontal gene transfer?FEMS microbiology reviews · 2025Review
- DNA modifications impact natural transformation of Acinetobacter baumannii.Nucleic acids research · 2023Article
- Large-scale phylogenomics of aquatic bacteria reveal molecular mechanisms for adaptation to salinity.Science advances · 2023Article
- Cj0683 Is a Competence Protein Essential for Efficient Initialization of DNA Uptake inBiomolecules · 2023Article
- The RecA-directed recombination pathway of natural transformation initiates at chromosomal replication forks in the pneumococcus.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2023Article
- Complete functional analysis of type IV pilus components of a reemergent plant pathogen reveals neofunctionalization of paralog genes.PLoS pathogens · 2023Article
- Structure-function studies reveal ComEA contains an oligomerization domain essential for transformation in gram-positive bacteria.Nature communications · 2022Article
- Article
8 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The DNA uptake of naturally competent bacteria has been attributed to the action of DNA uptake machineries resembling type IV pilus complexes. However, the protein(s) for pulling the DNA across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria remain speculative. Here we show that the competence protein ComEA binds incoming DNA in the periplasm of naturally competent Vibrio cholerae cells thereby promoting DNA uptake, possibly through ratcheting and entropic forces associated with ComEA binding. Using comparative modeling and molecular simulations, we projected the 3D structure and DNA-binding site of ComEA. These in silico predictions, combined with in vivo and in vitro validations of wild-type and site-directed modified variants of ComEA, suggested that ComEA is not solely a DNA receptor protein but plays a direct role in the DNA uptake process. Furthermore, we uncovered that ComEA homologs of other bacteria (both Gram-positive and Gram-negative) efficiently compensated for the absence of ComEA in V. cholerae, suggesting that the contribution of ComEA in the DNA uptake process might be conserved among naturally competent bacteria.
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