Abstract

Bioinformatics predictions and Ion Torrent PGM RNA-seq evidence of intrinsic transcriptional terminators in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Lori Snyder, Reader, Kingston University

DNA uptake sequences (DUS) are widespread throughout the Neisseria gonorrhoeae genome. DUS allow endogenous DNA to be exchanged between Neisseria species, and also occur as inverted repeats (IR-DUS), which have been suggested previously to play a role in rho-independent transcriptional termination and attenuation. IR-DUS can potentially act as bi-directional terminators, therefore affecting transcription on both DNA strands. However, not all IR-DUS are transcriptional terminators, as has been previously demonstrated experimentally. Using both bioinformatics predictions and experimental evidence, we demonstrate which IR-DUS are transcriptional terminators and in which direction, establishing a basis for future predictions.