Type IV prepilin peptidase gene of Neisseria gonorrhoeae MS11: presence of a related gene in other piliated and nonpiliated Neisseria strains

PCR amplification method yields the N. gonorrhoeae prepilin gene, pilD-Ng, which splits and subsequently N-methylates the precursor pilin subunits before assembling into pili. Accurate splitting of the gonococcal prepilin in Escherichia coli cells containing the prepilin peptidase gene and the pilin structural gene is promoted by the pilD-Ng product.