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A Transposase-Independent Mechanism Gives Rise to Precise Excision of IS256 from Insertion Sites in Staphylococcus epidermidis ^,

Universität Würzburg, Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie, Röntgenring 11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany

Received 9 August 2007/ Accepted 27 November 2007

The mobile element IS256 causes phase variation of biofilm formation in Staphylococcus epidermidis by insertion and precise excision from the icaADBC operon. Precise excision, i.e., removal of the target site duplications (TSDs) and restoration of the original DNA sequence, occurs rarely but independently of functional transposase. Instead, the integrity of the TSDs is crucial for precise excision. Excision increased significantly when the TSDs were brought into closer spatial proximity, suggesting that excision is a host-driven process that might involve most likely illegitimate recombination.

Published ahead of print on 7 December 2007.

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