Dissociation of unstable cointegrate plasmids formed during transposition of IS1 element: the role of IS1 encoded recombinase

The properties of IS1/Tn9'-mediated cointegrates between plasmids pDK57 (pBR322:: :: Tn9') and pRP3.1--the deletion derivative of RP1 were investigated. It was found that IS1/Tn9'-mediated integration of pDK57 into the active transcribed regions of pRP3.1 (in particular kan and tet genes) leads to formation of unstable cointegrates capable of resolving in E. coli K-12 rec+ and recA cells. The structure of dissociation products of unstable cointegrates was studied. According to the data received in rec+ cells, the unstable cointegrates mainly produced plasmids pDK57 and pBR322::IS1--Cms-derivative of pDK57 as resolution products. In recA cells the cointegrates dissociate in different ways, and this process leads to the formation of not only pDK57 and pBR322::IS1, but also to the production of the deletion derivatives of these plasmids as well as to the derivatives of pDK57 and pBR322::IS1, containing duplications of IS1 or separate parts of Tn9'. It was concluded that the IS1-specific recombinase is involved in the dissociation (resolution) of unstable IS1/Tn9'-mediated cointegrates. This recombinase recognizes the sites localized in both inverted termini of IS1 as well as in the adjacent DNA segments. Hence, it is possible, that the IS1 recombinase is involved also in the generation of IS1-adjacent delations.     

IS1-mediated tandem duplication of plasmid pBR322. Dependence on recA and on DNA polymerase I

Transposable-element-mediated fusion of the conjugal plasmid pOX38::Tn9 with pBR322 results in the appearance of cointegrates composed of a single copy of each plasmid, and cointegrates which carry a single copy of pOX38 but multiple tandem copies of pBR322. These plasmids are separated by directly repeated copies of the transposable element. We demonstrate here that such multimers can be generated from monomeric cointegrates, probably by unequal crossing over between the flanking Tn9(IS1) elements. Their appearance is thus not necessarily associated with the original transposition (fusion) event. Our study demonstrates that the process of duplication is strongly dependent on the homologous recombination system of Escherichia coli, since it is undetectable by our methods in recA- strains. It is also strongly dependent on the presence of a functional DNA polymerase I in the cell. The major pathway(s) for this duplication thus appears to rely on both the homologous recombination system and the replication of the duplicated segment.     

Characteristic features of the structure of co-integrating plasmids and simple insertions formed during transposition of the IS1 element in transposon Tn9'

Earlier we have studied unstable dissociating IS1/Tn9'-mediated cointegrates between the plasmids pDK57 (pBR322::Tn9') and pRP3.1, a deletion derivative of RP1, and two types of such cointegrates containing three and four copies of IS1 were revealed. In the present paper we studied the structure of stable IS1/Tn9'-mediates cointegrates and simple insertions formed by interaction between the plasmids pDK57 and pRP3.1 in the E. coli recA- cells. It was shown, that the stable cointegrates were formed by insertion of pDK57 in different loci of pRP3.1 and these cointegrates contain three copies of IS1, i.e. one copy of IS1 and a copy of Tn9' at the junction of the two replicons. The cointegrates are formed predominantly due to the activity of the left copy of Tn9', which occupies a proximal position in regard to the promoter of the cat gene. It was found that the integration of pDK57 into the kan gene region of pRP3.1 leading to the formation of the KmS cointegrates occurs only in one of the two possible orientations. Meanwhile the insertions of the transposon Tn9' into the kan region of pRP3.1 leading to simple insertions occurs in the orientation opposite to the orientation of the transposon in the KmS cointegrates. It is proposed that simple insertions are not the products of direct transposition of Tn9', but they are formed from unstable cointegrates under the action of IS1-specific resolvase.     

Structural instability of co-integrates formed during interaction of plasmid R57 with pB322 and RP1. Possible role of IS1 element in the degradation of co-integrates

The conjugative plasmid R57 determines resistance to ampicillin and chloramphenicol. Earlier it was shown that R57 encodes site-specific recA-independent recombinase, which acts in cis and resolves IS1-mediated cointegrates arising in the Escherichia coli recA cells between R57 and pBR322. In the present work the properties of the cointegrates between R57 and pBR322 or RP1 arising in the E. coli rec+ strains were studied. It was found that the cointegrates between R57 and pBR322, obtained by mating of the respective biplasmid donors of E. coli rec+ and the rec+ recipients, lost as a result of deletion a large DNA segment of R57 containing determinant Cmr. The resulting hybrid replicons preserved determinants Apr and Tcr of pBR322 and the R57 conjugative properties and were structurally identical. By using plasmid RP1ts12, which is temperature-sensitive in replication, it was demonstrated that in cells rec+ the cointegrates between R57 and RP1 are extremely unstable. On storage they undergo structural degradation mainly affecting the RP1 replicon. The degradation products of the hydrid complex had lost their RP1 genes but preserved the R57 functional determinants. For elucidation of the observed phenomena the properties of the IS1-mediated cointegrates between pBR322:Tn9 and plasmid pBR3.1--deletion derivative of RP1 were studied. It was found that insertion of IS1 sometimes resulted in formation of unstable cointegrates capable of resolving and loosing determinant Cmr with a high frequency. It was suggested that IS1 encodes the site-specific recombinase responsible for resolution of the IS1-mediated cointegrates and deletion generation. Expression of this recombinase appears to be dependent on structure of the insertion sites. The possible role of IS1 and recombinase encoded by it in resolution and structural instability of the cointegrates between R57 and pBR322 or RP1 is discussed.     

Structure and stability of cointegrating plasmids mediated by the IS1 elements in transposon delta Tn9'

In order to elucidate the structural features of the transposon Tn9', representative of the Tn9 family, which define the ability of the transposon to produce unstable cointegrates, we have obtained a derivative of this transposon carrying a deletion in its central region. The deletion in the obtained transposon delta Tn9' covers a DNA segment of about 50 bp in length, occupying the most distal position in relation to the cat gene, at its junction with the right copy of the IS1. The structure and stability of the IS1/delta Tn9'-mediated cointegrates between the plasmids pDK57.1 (pBR322::delta Tn9') and pRP3.1, a deletion derivative of RP1, have been studied. The three types of cointegrates were found. Those of the type I are predominantly formed, due to the left copy of the IS1 which in delta Tn9' occupies proximal position to the promoter of the cat gene. These cointegrates contain three copies of IS1 and are of high stability. The cointegrates of the type II contain two entire copies of delta Tn9' (i.e. four copies of IS1) as well as the structures of the type II, representing the cointegrate equivalent of inverse transposition and also containing four copies of IS1. Cointegrates of the type II and III dissociate efficiently in the rec+ cells but, in contrast to the cointegrates mediated by the original transposon Tn9', are unable to dissociate efficiently in the recA- cells. It was concluded that a DNA segment in the central region of Tn9' may be essential for the expression of the IS1-specific resolvase encoded by the right copy of IS1.     

Study of the role of the insA open reading frame in the IS1 insertion element structure during transposition and resolution of the IS1 mediated cointegrates

In order to elucidate the function of the IS1 insA gene derivatives of plasmid pUC19::Tn9' with insertions of synthetic oligonucleotides were obtained. The latter are equal or multiple of 9 b.p. in length and are located in the Pst1 site within each of the two IS1 copies of the Tn9' transposon. The insertions of the nine base oligonucleotides code for the neutral amino acids and do not shift the reading frame. One of the mutant transposon obtained - Tn9'/X was studied on the ability to form simple insertions and plasmid cointegrates. For this purpose the pUC19 derivatives carrying the wild type and mutant transposon were mobilized by conjugative plasmid pRP3.1. It was found that the damage of the insA gene does not influence the ability of transposon to form simple insertions and plasmid cointegrates in both recA - and rec+ cells of E. coli. However, the frequency of the cointegrate formation in the subsequent transposition of the mutant transposon from pRP3.1::Tn9'/X to pBR322 was by 10-20 times lower in comparison to the wild type transposon. Instable (dissociating) Tn9'/X-mediated plasmid cointegrates formed by interaction pUC19::Tn9'/X and pRP3.1 were obtained. It was shown that in the E. coli recA-cells such cointegrates dissociate, as a rule, "correctly", i.e. they segregate mainly plasmids of types pUC19::Tn9'/X and pUC19::IS1/X. The data obtained correspond with the notion that the gene insA product is not essential for transposition, but is, possibly, involved in the formation of the IS1-generated deletions.     

Mechanism of Is1 Transposition in E. COLI: Choice between Simple Insertion and Cointegration

Insertion element IS1 and IS1-based transposon Tn9 generate cointegrates (containing vector and target DNAs joined by duplicate copies of IS1 or Tn9) and simple insertions (containing IS1 or Tn9 detached from vector sequences). Based on studies of transposon Tn5 we had proposed a conservative (non-replicative) model for simple insertion. Others had proposed that all transposition is replicative, occurring in a rolling circle structure, and that the way DNA strands are joined when replication terminates determines whether a simple insertion or a cointegrate is formed.--We selected for the transposition of amp and cam resistance markers from pBR322::Tn9 plasmids to an F factor in recA-E. coli and identified products containing three and four copies of IS1, corresponding to true cointegrates (from monomeric plasmids), and simple insertions (from dimeric plasmids). The simple insertions with four copies of IS1 outnumbered those with three by a ratio of about 3:1, whereas true cointegrates containing three copies of IS1 were more numerous than those with four.--A straightforward rolling circle model had predicted that the simple insertions containing three copies of IS1 should be more frequent than those with four. Because we obtained the opposite result we propose that simple insertions only arise when the element fails to replicate or if replication starts but then terminates prematurely. The two classes of products, simple insertions and cointegrates, reflect alternative conservative and replicative fates, respectively, of an early intermediate in transposition.     

Function of the InsA gene in the IS1 element of the Tn9' transposon: influence of oligonucleotide inserts in the InsA gene on formation of simple insertions and plasmid cointegrates]

To elucidate the role of the insA reading frame in transposition of the IS1 element of the Tn9' transposon, the derivatives of plasmids pUC19::Tn9' and pUC19::IS1 have been obtained using oligonucleotide inserts of the length equal or exceeding 9 bp and equal to 10 bp. The ability of mutant variants of the Tn9' transposon and the IS1 element to form simple insertions and plasmid cointegrates was studied. To this end, experiments were performed on mobilization of the derivatives of pUC19 containing mutant variants of the IS1 element and Tn9' as well as of the plasmids pUC19::Tn9' by the conjugative plasmid pRP3.1. According to the data obtained, mutations (inserts) in the insA gene have no influence on the frequency of transposition of the IS1 element and Tn9' from the plasmid pUC19 to pRP3.1. At the same time, the frequency of transposition events of mutant variants of Tn9' from the plasmid pRP3.1 to pBR322 is more than 10 times lower in comparison with the wild type transposon. The data obtained are in accordance with the assumption that the insA gene is not essential for transposition. A hypothesis is put forward explaining the role of the insA gene product in the process of bringing together short inverted repeats of the IS1, which are the sites for the transposase to be recognized at first stages of transposition.     

A simple procedure for transferring genes cloned in Escherichia coli vectors into other gram-negative bacteria: phenotypic analysis and mapping of TOL plasmid gene xylK

A simple method to transfer non-conjugative Escherichia coli plasmids to other Gram-negative bacteria and their maintenance is described. This method involves generation of inverse transposition-mediated cointegrates of the non-conjugative E. coli plasmid with a conjugative IncW broad-host-range plasmid, R388, carrying Tn10. Isolation of such cointegrates was readily effected by conjugal transfer from an E. coli donor containing the two plasmids to an E. coli recipient, with selection for transconjugants expressing a marker of the E. coli plasmid. This method is particularly useful when large series of E. coli vector-based clones need to be expressed in other Gram-negative bacteria to be functionally analysed, either by complementation or recombination. Utility of the method is shown by a functional analysis in Pseudomonas putida of pBR322 hybrid plasmids containing catabolic genes of TOL plasmid pWW0.     

ISPpy1, a novel mobile element of the ancient Psychrobacter maritimus permafrost strain: translocations in Escherichia coli K-12 cells and formation of composite transposons

It was shown that IS element ISPpyl isolated earlier in the permafrost strain Psychrobacter maritimus MR29-12 has a high level of functional activity in cells of the heterologous host Escherichia coli K-12. ISPpyl can be translocated in E. coli cells by itself and mobilize adjacent genes and can also form composite transposons flanked by two copies of this element. Apart from translocations between different plasmids, the composite ISPpyl-containing transposon Tn5080a is capable of translocation from the plasmid into the E. coli chromosome with high frequency and from the chromosome into the plasmid. Among products of Tn5080a transposition into plasmid R388, simple insertions were predominantly formed together with cointegrates. Upon mobilization of adjacent genes with the use of one ISPpyl copy, only cointegrates arise.     

Evidence for Campbell's mechanism for fine excision of Tn9 type transposons in Escherichia coli K12]

The plasmid-transposon Tn9-322 was constructed by inverted transposition from the pBR322::Tn9 plasmid. The precise excision of the Tn9-322 transposon from the proB gene site can proceed by the Campbell's model. This fact was demonstrated by appearance of the plasmid-transposons after their precise excision. They contain two IS1 elements flanking a short direct repeat of the target DNA. The recombinational mechanism of precise excision of Tn9 type transposons seems not to be alternative but looks as an additional one to a well-known slippage mechanism proved for Tn5 and Tn10.     

An inverted repeat sequence of the IncFI plasmid ColV2-K94 increases multimerization-mediated plasmid instability

A detailed physical map of the region of the IncFI plasmid ColV2-K94 containing the Rep1 replicon, a Tn903 transposon, and an inverted repeat structure (X1) with unknown properties was prepared by cloning restriction fragments into pBR325. Inserts carrying the 1.2 kb repeated sequence of X1, but not the IS903 sequence of Tn903, had a destabilizing effect on pBR325 and pBR322 plasmid maintenance. One of these derivatives, pWS139, was studied further and was shown to have elevated levels of multimeric DNA forms; this resulted in decreased copy number and plasmid instability, as multimerization reduces the effective number of randomly segregating plasmids per cell. A ColV2-K94 miniplasmid, which has a copy number much lower than that of ColE1-derived vectors, was also less stably inherited if it contained the X1 structure. This destabilizing effect of the X1 repeat sequence was dependent on the RecA function, but not the RecB or the RecC functions of the host. These results suggest that the inverted repeat sequence of the X1 structure serves as a 'hot-spot' for generalized recombination. Thus, when present in cis, this sequence can generate plasmid instability because plasmid molecules are readily converted into multimeric forms through enhanced recombination at this site.     

Transposition of Tn1000: activity of single or directly repeated termini.

Tn1000 (gamma delta) termini IRR and IRL, or direct repetitions of IRR-IRL carried by pBR322 derivatives mediate cointegration with pOX38 at similar rates. Structures of product plasmids indicate that the transposed segments correspond to DNA bounded by IR segments in the donor plasmid. Such structures could arise by symmetric transposition from a replication intermediate.     

Genetic evidence for absence of transposition functions from the internal part of Tn981 a relative of Tn9

Summary Inverse transposition of the DNA of pBR322 was found to be mediated by the small transposon Tn981 a relative of Tn9 flanked by direct repeats of IS1. Since the resulting structure IS1:: pBR322::IS1 (Tn983) is transposed in a second step in the absence of Tn981, it is concluded that all the functions necessary for transposition of IS1 flanked transposons are coded for by IS1 itself or the E. coli chromosome, respectively.     

The plasmid cloning vector pBR325 contains a 482 base-pair-long inverted duplication

The plasmid pBR325 is a cloning vector constructed in vitro by addition of the chloramphenicol resistance (Cmr) gene of an IS1-flanked transposon to pBR322 (Bolivar, 1978). It is a 5 995 bp plasmid carrying no sequence originating from IS1. DNA-sequence data suggest that its Cmr segment was derived from a Cm transposon longer than Tn9. The plasmid pBR325 carries between the Cmr and Tcr genes a 482 bp sequence which duplicates, in the opposite orientation, a section pf pBR322 located at the end of the tcr gene. The same structure was found in pBR328, a deletion derivative of pBR325 (Soberon et al., 1980). The possible implications of this inverted duplication on cloning experiments are discussed.