Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
A repetitive DNA motif was used as a marker to identify novel genes in the mucosal pathogen Moraxella catarrhalis. There is a high prevalence of such repetitive motifs in virulence genes that display phase variable expression. Two repeat containing loci were identified using a digoxigenin-labelled 5'-(CAAC)6-3' oligonucleotide probe. The repeats are located in the methylase components of two distinct type III restriction-modification (R-M) systems. We suggest that the phase variable nature of these R-M systems indicates that they have an important role in the biology of M. catarrhalis.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Seib et al. (2002) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: