Gene Targeting in Gram-Negative Bacteria by Use of a Mobile Group II Intron (“Targetron”) Expressed from a Broad-Host-Range Vector |
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| Authors: | Jun Yao and Alan M. Lambowitz |
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| Abstract: | Mobile group II introns (“targetrons”) can be programmed for insertion into virtually any desired DNA target with high frequency and specificity. Here, we show that targetrons expressed via an m-toluic acid-inducible promoter from a broad-host-range vector containing an RK2 minireplicon can be used for efficient gene targeting in a variety of gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Targetrons expressed from donor plasmids introduced by electroporation or conjugation yielded targeted disruptions at frequencies of 1 to 58% of screened colonies in the E. coli lacZ, P. aeruginosa pqsA and pqsH, and A. tumefaciens aopB and chvI genes. The development of this broad-host-range system for targetron expression should facilitate gene targeting in many bacteria. |
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