DNA inversions in phages and bacteria

Abstract

In certain phages and bacteria, there is a recombination system that specifically promotes the inversion of a DNA fragment. These inversion events appear to act as genetic switches allowing the alternate expression of different sets of genes which in general code for surface proteins. The mechanism of inversion in one class of inversion systems (Gin/Hin) has been studied in detail. It involves the formation of a highly specific nucleoprotein complex in which not only the two recombination sites and the DNA invertase participate but also a recombinational enhancer to which the DNA-bending protein Fis is bound.