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. 1992 Mar;60(3):970–975. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.3.970-975.1992

Molecular characterization of the argJ mutation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains with requirements for arginine, hypoxanthine, and uracil.

P R Martin 1, M H Mulks 1
PMCID: PMC257582  PMID: 1339413

Abstract

Arginine auxotrophs are commonly encountered among clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Arginine auxotrophs which also require hypoxanthine and uracil (AHU strains) compose a unique set of strains that are highly homogeneous and are believed to be clonally derived. The Arg- phenotype of these strains is due to a lesion in the argJ gene encoding ornithine acetyltransferase. We have cloned the mutant argJ gene from an AHU strain and compared the sequence of this gene to the wild-type argJ gene. The mutant gene contained a 3-bp deletion within a repetitive region of the argJ gene. This mutation was restored to the wild-type sequence in a naturally occurring Arg+ revertant of the AHU strain. This deletion was detected in a wide variety of other AHU strains but not in other ArgJ- strains or in ArgJ+ strains, supporting the theory that AHU strains are clonally derived.

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Selected References

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