Until now, Escherichia coli was thought to be unable to develop natural competence, i.e., genetic transformation could be achieved only artificially with the aid of nonphysiological concentrations of calcium ions or by other treatments. We have tested the competence development of E. coli through transformation under natural conditions in river water, springwater, and mineral water which contai...

Our previous work established that DNA is naturally transferable on agar plates through a new transformation system which is regulated by the stationary phase master regulator RpoS in Escherichia coli. In this transformation system, neither additional Ca(2+) nor heat shock is required. Instead, transformation is stimulated by agar. The membrane protein OmpA, a gated pore permeable to ions and l...

Natural transformation describes how some bacteria can incorporate exogenous DNA into their genome and acquire new traits. This phenomenon occurs in Vibrios and is induced by the biopolymer chitin. In Vibrios, TfoX is a primary regulator of natural transformation. The mechanisms underlying chitin-induced natural transformation and activation of TfoX in Vibrio fischeri remain unclear. This proje...

Natural transformation can lead to exchange of DNA between taxonomically diverse bacteria. In the case of chromosomal DNA, homology-based recombination with the recipient genome is usually necessary for heritable stability. In our recent study, we have shown that natural transformation can promote the transfer of transposons, IS elements, and integrons and gene cassettes, largely independent of...