细菌whi基因及其在分枝杆菌中的特点和功能

whi genes of the bacteria and their characteristics and functions in Mycobacteria

whi基因是根据链霉菌中形成白色孢子突变体的相关基因来命名的。目前发现的whi基因分别为除whiC基因和whiF外的whiA～O中的13种基因。存在whi基因的细菌种类已经在链霉菌和分枝杆菌等17种细菌属中发现。目前对两者的研究资料较少,而研究较多的是whiB家族,其中whiB2、whiB3和whiB7具有重要的临床意义。该文对现阶段严重威胁人类健康的致病分枝杆菌属中存在的whi基因(whiA、whiD和whiB)其功能与特点进行讨论。

The whi genes were identified from the sporulation-deficient mutants of streptomyces by virtue of their inability to sythesize the gray spore pigment. Thirteen seperate loci except for whiC and whiF were confirmed. The whi genes were found in seventeen kinds of bacteria including mycobacteria and streptomyces. Of all the whi genes of the clinical mycobacteria, the whiB2, whiB3 and whiB7 had important clinical function. The characteristics and functions of the whi genes of the clinical mycobacteria, whiA, whiB and whiD, were discussed.