Abstract
lasmids face many of the same problems as bacterial chromosomes: They must replicate themselves, synthesize appropriate gene products, and segregate at least one copy of the plasmid into each daughter cell at cell division. However, plasmids also maintain incompatibility functions that prevent other, similar plasmids from taking up residence in the same cell and in many cases can transfer their DNA to other cells. They exist in a characteristic low or high copy number relative to the bacterial chromosome. This chapter considers the various methods by which plasmids accomplish these tasks.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
General
Hiraga, S. (1992). Chromosome and plasmid partition in Escherichia coli. Annual Review of Biocheristry 61: 283–306.
Ippen-Ihier, K.A., Skurray, R.A. (1993). Genetic organization of transfer-related determinants on the sex factor F and related plasmids, pp. 23–52. In: Clewell, D.B. (ed.), Bacterial Conjugation. New York: Plenum Press.
Khan, S.A. (1997). Rolling-circle replication of bacterial plasmids. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 67: 442–455.
Kittell, B.L., Helinski, D.R. (1993). Plasmid incompatability and replication control, pp. 223–242. In Clewell, D.B.(ed.), Bacterial Conjugation. New York: Plenum Press.
Meijer, W.J.J., Wisman, G.B.A., Terpstra, P., Thorsted, P.B., Thomas, C.M., Holsappel, S., Venema, G., Bron, S. (1998). Rolling-circle plasmids from Bacillus subtilis: Complete nucleotide sequences and analyses of genes of pTA 1015, pTA 1040, pTA 1050 and pTA 1060, and comparisons with related plasmids from gram-positive bacteria. FEMS Microbiology Reviews 21: 337–368.
Novick, R.P. (1998). Contrasting lifestyles of rolling-circle phages and plasmids. Trends in Biochemical Sciences 23: 434–438.
Viret, J.-F., Bravo, A., Alonso, J.C. (1991). Recombination-dependent concatemeric plasmid replication. Microbiological Reviews 55: 675–683.
Wilkins, B., Lanka, E. (1993). DNA processing and replication during plasmid transfer between gram-negative bacteria, pp. 105–136. In: Clewell, D.B. (ed.), Bacterial Conjugation. New York: Plenum Press.
Zatyka, M., Thomas, C.M. Control of genes for conjugative transfer of plasmids and other mobile elements. FEMS Microbiology Reviews 21: 91–319.
Specialized
Bernard, P., Couturier, M. (1992). Cell killing by the F plasmid CcdB protein involves poisoning of DNA-topoisomerase II complexes. Journal of Molecular Biology 226: 735–745.
Critchlow, S.E., O’Dea, M.H., Howells, A.J., Couturier, M., Gellert, M., Maxwell, A. (1997). The interaction of the F plasmid killer protein, CcdB, with DNA gyrase: Induction of DNA cleavage and blocking of transcription. Journal of Molecular Biology 273: 826–839.
Easter, C.L., Schwab, H., Helinski, D.R. (1998). Role of the parCBA operon of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2 in stable plasmid maintenance. Journal of Bacteriology 180: 6023–6030.
Fukuda, H., Ohtsubo, E. (1997). Roles of TraI protein with activities of cleaving and rejoining the single-stranded DNA in both initiation and termination of conjugal DNA transfer. Genes to Cells 2: 735–751.
Gaudin, N.M., Silverman, P.M. (1993). Contributions of promoter context and structure to regulated expression of the F plasmid traY promoter in Escherichia coli K-12. Molecular Microbiology 8: 335–342.
Gerdes, K., Nielsen, A., Thorsted, P. (1992). Mechanism of killer gene activation. Antisense RNA-dependent RNase III cleavage ensures rapid turnover of the stable Hok, SrnB and PndA effector messenger RNAs. Journal of Molecular Biology 226: 637–651.
Gordon, G.S., Sitnikov, D., Webb, C.D., Teleman, A., Straight, A., Losick, R., Murray, A.W , Wright, A. (1997). Chromosome and low copy plasmid segregation in E. coli: visual evidence for distinct mechanisms. Cell 90: 1113–1121.
Hirano, M., Mori, H., Onogi, T., Yamazoe, M., Niki, H., Ogura, T., Hiraga, S. (1998). Autoregulation of the partition genes of the mini-F plasmid and the intracellular localization of their products in Escherichia coli. Molecular and General Genetics 257: 392–403.
Kramer, M.G., Espinosa, M., Misra, T.K., Khan, S.A. (1998). Lagging strand replication of rolling-circle plasmids: Specific recognition of the ssoAtype origins in different gram-positive bacteria. Proccedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 95: 10505–10510.
Klimke, W.A., Frost, L.S. (1998). Genetic analysis of the role of the transfer gene, traN, of the F and R 100–1 plasmids in mating pair stabilization during conjugation. Journal of Bacteriology 180: 4036–4043.
Koppes, L.J.H. (1992). Nonrandom F-plasmid replication in Escherichia coli K-12. Journal of Bacteriology 174: 2121–2123. (Density shift experiments show that F plasmids replicate at specific times during the cell cycle.)
Lycett, G.W., Pritchard, R.H. (1986). Functioning of the F-plasmid origin of replication in an Escherichia coli K-12 Hfr strain during exponential growth. Plasmid 16: 168–174.
Matsunaga, F., Ishiai, M., Kobayashi, G., Uga, H., Yura, T, Wada, C. (1997). The central region of RepE initiator protein of mini-F plasmid plays a crucial role in dimerization required for negative replication control. Journal of Molecular Biology 274: 27–38.
Taki, K., Abo, T, Ohtsubo, E. (1998). Regulatory mechanisms in expression of the traY-I operon of sex factor plasmid R100: Involvement of traJ and traY gene products. Genes to Cells 3: 331–345.
Tresguerres, E.F., Nieto, C., Casquero, I., Canovas, J.L. (1986). Host cell variations resulting from F plasmid-controlled replication of the Escherichia coli chromosome. Journal of Bacteriology 165: 424–427.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Birge, E.A. (2000). Plasmid Molecular Biology. In: Bacterial and Bacteriophage Genetics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3258-0_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3258-0_13
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-3260-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-3258-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive