Formation of lambda transducing phage in vitro: involvement of DNA gyrase

We found that transducing phages carrying the gal or bio regions of the Escherichia coli genome were formed during in vitro packaging of endogenous lambda DNA. Structural analysis of the transducing phage genomes indicated that they were formed by abnormal excision of lambda prophage. Formation of transducing phages was stimulated by oxolinic acid, an inhibitor of DNA gyrase, implying that DNA gyrase participates in the abnormal excision of lambda prophage. When pBR322 DNA was added to the reaction mixture, transducing phages into which pBR322 had been inserted were produced at a high frequency. This reaction was also stimulated by oxolinic acid. Sequence analyses revealed that pBR322 is inserted into the sites of abnormal excision of the prophage. These results show that transducing phages can be formed by DNA gyrase-dependent illegitimate recombination in an in vitro system and that secondary recombination takes place frequently at the site where the first recombination occurs.     

Site-specific and illegitimate recombination in the oriV1 region of the F factor. DNA sequences involved in recombination and resolution

We have defined some of the sequences involved in high frequency recA-independent recombination at the oriV1 region of the F factor. Using a mobilization assay, we determined that plasmid pMB080, a pBR322 derivative bearing the PvuII-BamHI (F factor co-ordinates 45.43 to 46.0) fragment from the oriV1 region of F, contained all sequences necessary to undergo efficient site-specific recombination with the F derivative pOX38, which retains the oriV1 region. We constructed a series of pMB080 deletions in vitro using exonucleases S1 and Bal31. Deletions removing a ten base-pair sequence, which forms part of an inverted repeat segment located 62 base-pairs to the left of the NcoI site (45.87) within the cloned fragment, totally eliminated the recA-independent recombination reaction. Other deletions differentially affected both the frequency and stability of cointegrate molecules formed by the site-specific recombination system. The F factor oriV1 region is involved also in low-frequency recombination with several sites on pBR322 and related plasmids. We have determined the precise location of these recombination sites within oriV1 by DNA sequencing. These studies revealed that recombination always took place within an eight base-pair spacer region between the ten base-pair inverted repeats found to be important for oriV1-oriV1 interactions. We propose that the low-efficiency recombination between pBR322 and pOX38 results from the ability of the F site-specific recombination apparatus to weakly recognize and interact with sequences that bear some resemblance to the normal oriV1 recognition elements. Furthermore, we suggest, by analogy with the lambda paradigm, that the nucleotide sequences at the junctions of secondary site recombinants define at least one crossover site used during the normal site-specific recombination process.     

Homology is not required for recombination mediated by DNA gyrase of Escherichia coli

Summary We have previously shown that DNA gyrase of Escherichia coli can promote recombination between heterologous DNAs in a cell-free system (Ikeda et al. 1982). In the present paper, we have studied the nucleotide sequences of several recombination junctions of -pBR322 recombinants and found that there were not more than three-basepair homologies between the parental DNAs in six combinations of the and pBR322 recombination sites. Based on this and previous results, we concluded that homology was not required for the DNA gyrase-mediated recombination. Furthermore, the structures of the recombinant DNAs we have analyzed suggest the occurrence of multiple crossovers in our in vitro system.     

Interplasmid illegitimate recombination in Bacillus subtilis cells

The illegitimate recombination between S. aureus plasmids pE194 (or pGG20-the hybrid between pE194 and E. coli plasmid pBR322) and pBD17 (plasmid pUB110 without Hpa-II-C-fragment) in B. subtilis was studied. Plasmid cointegrates were generated with the frequency of 1-3.10(-8). Among the 22 hybrids analysed 9 types of recombinants were found. Nucleotide sequences of all the parental plasmids were involved in intermolecular recombination. Nucleotide sequencing of recombinant DNA junctions has revealed that in 8 cases recombination occurred between short homologous regions (9-15 b.p.). One of the recombinants resulted from nonhomologous recombination. The similarity between nucleotide sequences of recombination sites of two types of contegrates and those used for pE194 integration into the B. subtilis chromosome (Bashkirov et al. 1987) was demonstrated. Possible mechanisms of illegitimate recombination are discussed.     

Illegitimate recombination in Bacillus subtilis: nucleotide sequences at recombinant DNA junctions

Summary The illegitimate integration of plasmid pGG20 (the hybrid between Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pE194 and Escherichia coli plasmid pBR322) into the Bacillus subtilis chromosome was studied. It was found that nucleotide sequences of both parental plasmids could be involved in this process. The recombinant DNA junctions between plasmid pGG20 and the chromosome were cloned and their nucleotide sequences were determined. The site of recombination located on the pBR322 moiety carried a short region (8 bp) homologous with the site on the chromosome. The nucleotide sequences of the pE194 recombination sites did not share homology with chromosomal sequences involved in the integration process. Two different pathways of illegitimate recombination in B. subtilis are suggested.     

In vitro packaging into phage T4 particles and specific recircularization of phage lambda DNAs

Concatemeric phage lambda imm434 DNA packaged in vitro into phage T4 particles produced plaques on a selective host. Moreover, lambda DNA containing a pBR322 derivative flanked by the lambda attL and attR sites could be specifically recircularized by excisive lambda recombination to yield the pBR322 derivative. A host deficient in generalized recombination and containing a defective lambda c Its prophage which provided Int and Xis proteins was the recipient for this plasmid derivative carried by T4. Such a T4-lambda hybrid may potentially allow almost one T4 headful of donor DNA (166 kb) to be packaged and recircularized.     

Towards single-copy gene expression systems making gene cloning physiologically relevant: lambda InCh, a simple Escherichia coli plasmid-chromosome shuttle system

We describe a simple system for reversible, stable integration of plasmid-borne genes into the Escherichia coli chromosome. Most ordinary E. coli strains and a variety of pBR322-derived ampicillin-resistant plasmids can be used. A single genetic element, a lambda phage, is the only specialized vector required. The resultant strains have a single copy of the plasmid fragment inserted stably at the lambda attachment site on the chromosome, with nearly the entire lambda genome deleted.     

Recombination between bacteriophage T4 and plasmid pBR322 molecules containing cloned T4 DNA

Reciprocal recombination between T4 DNA cloned in plasmid pBR322 and homologous sequences in bacteriophage T4 genomes leads to integration of complete plasmid molecules into phage genomes. Indirect evidence of this integration comes from two kinds of experiments. Packaging of pBR322 DNA into mature phage particles can be detected by a DNA--DNA hybridization assay only when a T4 restriction fragment is cloned in the plasmid. The density of the pBR322 DNA synthesized after phage infection is also consistent with integration of plasmid vector DNA into vegetative phage genomes. Direct evidence of plasmid integration into phage genomes in the region of DNA homology comes from genetic and biochemical analysis of cytosine-containing DNA isolated from mature phage particles. Agarose gel electrophoresis of restriction endonuclease-digested DNA, followed by Southern blot analysis with nick-translated probes, shows that entire plasmid molecules become integrated into phage genomes in the region of T4 DNA homology. In addition, this analysis shows that genomes containing multiple copies of complete plasmid molecules are also formed. Among phage particles containing at least one integrated copy, the average number of integrated plasmid molecules is almost ten. A cloning experiment done with restricted DNA confirms these conclusions and illustrates a method for walking along the T4 genome.     

Genomic integration system based on pBR322 sequences for the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7942: transfer of genes encoding plastocyanin and ferredoxin.

Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 recipient strains were constructed for the chromosomal integration of DNA fragments cloned in any pBR322-derived vector, which carries the ampicillin resistance (ApR) marker. The construction was based on the incorporation of specific recombination targets, the so-called 'integration platforms', into the chromosomal metF gene. These platforms consist of an incomplete bla gene (ApS) and the pBR322 ori separated from each other by a gene encoding an antibiotic (streptomycin or kanamycin) resistance (SmR or KmR). Recombination between a pBR322-derived donor plasmid and such a chromosomal platform results with high frequency in restoration of the bla gene and replacement of the chromosomal marker (SmR or KmR) by the insert of the donor plasmid. The integration into the platform depends on recombination between pBR322 ori and bla sequences only and is therefore independent of the DNA insert to be transferred. The desired recombinants are found by selection for a functional bla gene (ApR) and subsequent screening for absence of the chromosomal antibiotic marker. Gene transfer with this integration system was found to occur efficiently and reliably. Furthermore, the presence of the pBR322 ori in the platform allowed for 'plasmid rescue' of integrated sequences. The system was applied successfully for the transfer of the gene encoding plastocyanin (petE1) from Anabaena sp. PCC7937 and for the integration of an extra copy of the gene encoding ferredoxin I (petF1) from Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 itself.     

The role of DNA-gyrase from Bacillus subtilis during intermolecular irregular recombination]

The location of oxolinis acid-induced gyrase cleavage sites on pBR322 and pUB110 plasmid DNA in Bacillus subtilis cells has been studied and established. The treated Bacillus subtilis protoplasts were used in the study. Coordinates of the gyrase cleavage sites were compared to the location of the illegitimate recombination sites precisely mapped on the plasmid genomes. The obtained data indicate involvement of the DNA gyrase in formation of a fraction of recombinants in Bacillus subtilis.     

Efficient octopine Ti plasmid-derived vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer to plants.

A two-component cloning system to transfer foreign DNA into plants was derived from the octopine Ti plasmid pTiB6S3. pGV2260 is a non-oncogenic Ti plasmid from which the T-region is deleted and substituted by pBR322. pGV831 is a streptomycin-resistant pBR325 derivative that contains a kanamycin resistance marker gene for plant cells and a site for cloning foreign genes between the 25-bp border sequences of the octopine T-region. Conjugative transfer of pGV831 derivatives to Agrobacterium and cointegration by homologous recombination between the pBR322 sequences present on pGV831 and pGV2260, can be obtained in a single step. Strains carrying the resulting cointegrated plasmids transfer and integrate T-DNA into the genome of tobacco protoplasts, and transformed tobacco calli are readily selected as resistant to kanamycin. Intact plants containing the entire DNA region between the T-DNA borders have been regenerated from such clones. In view of these properties we present pGV831 and its derivatives as vectors for efficient integration of foreign genes into plants.     

Lambda phagemids and their transducing properties

Two recombinant lambda DNAs, lambda gt::pMB9 and lambda NM::pBR322, containing, respectively, the pMB9 and pBR322 replicon were constructed and characterized. Both constructs (phagemid DNAs) transfect Escherichia coli cells, producing mature infectious phage progenies. Alternatively, drug-resistant colonies of transductants can be selected upon infection with these phages (phagemid particles) that maintain phagemid DNA in the cell in the form of covalently closed circular plasmids. The efficiency of transduction for nonlysogenic E. coli strains with lambda gt::pMB9 phage producing lambda repressor cIts ranges from 10(-7) to 10(-2) transductant colonies per input phage, depending on the temperature and strain used, while lambda NM::pBR322 phage carrying imm21 transduces with a frequency of up to 1. This means that each lambda NM::pBR322 phagemid particle is capable of establishing itself in the cell as a nonlethal plasmid, permitting formation of a resistant bacterial colony. The maximal level of transduction with lambda gt::pMB9 was obtained when E. coli cells lysogenic for lambda were used. Thus, we believe that the efficiency of transduction is determined by the turn-on of the phage repressor in the transductant. In addition, we have found that all lambda gt::pMB9-containing transductants under certain conditions harbor precisely excised pMB9; excision of pBR322 from lambda NM::pBR322 has not been observed.     

Retrovirus-mediated insertional mutagenesis: phagemid rescue of flanking DNA by selecting plasmid ori

A method for screening recombinant lambda libraries was devised to select phage containing genomic regions containing provirus insertions of retroviruses that carry the kanamycin and G418 resistance factor neo and the origin of replication derived from pBR322 (oripBR). Such recombinants are phagemids, able to replicate as bacteriophages or as plasmids under lambda repressor control. lambda repressor was cloned into a plasmid derived from pSC101 that is compatible with pBR322-derived phagemids. A strain carrying this plasmid may be used to select phagemids derived from a single proviral insertion with 100% efficiency from complex recombinant libraries. Homologous recombination between proviral long terminal repeats was observed at a rate of 10(-4)/plaque-forming unit in recABC+ strains. Despite this frequency, intact phagemids are easily recovered as phage after temperature shift to 42 degrees C. Since oripBR itself is a selectable marker in this system, the method could be applied to recover any sequence carrying the ori sequence from pBR322.     

Amplification of DNA at a prophage attachment site in Haemophilus influenzae.

The Escherichia coli plasmids pBR322 and pBR327 can be taken up by Haemophilus influenzae but do not replicate in this organism; however, integration of pBR into the H. influenzae chromosome was achieved by ligation to a fragment of the Haemophilus phage S2 that carried a phage attachment site (attP). Once these sequences were integrated, they could serve as sites of recombination and amplification for homologous (pBR or phage) DNA. Amplification appeared to occur in one of two prophage sites (attB) present in the H. influenzae chromosome. The extent of amplification was different in different cells and reflected the ability of these sequences to undergo rearrangement leading to the formation of a DNA ladder. The ladder was obtained by treatment of DNA with restriction enzymes that cut outside of the inserted DNA, i.e., did not cut in the repeat sequence, and represented different numbers of repeat elements. Reversed-field gel electrophoresis was instrumental in resolving amplified structures. Inasmuch as single-cell isolates gave rise to the same ladder structure, it was assumed that amplification was under regulatory control and that it reproduced the same equilibrium of repeat structures. Transformation of E. coli with the amplified H. influenzae DNA resulted in precise excision and replication of the original monomeric plasmids. This excision was independent of the recA and recBC genes.     

Phasmids: hybrids between ColE1 plasmids and E. coli bacteriophage lambda

Plasmids carrying cloned lambda att sites may be integrated into the bacteriophage genome by the site-specific recombination mechanism of lambda. The cross, referred to as "lifting" the plasmid, requires mixed infection of an Escherichia coli strain carrying the plasmid with two appropriately constructed "lifting" lambda phages. One phage donates a short left arm and the other donates a short right arm. These two short arms are of insufficient length to produce a viable phage genome and yield no recombinants when crossed on standard bacteria. However, viable recombinants are obtained when the genome length is extended by integration of one or more plasmids. We call these recombinants phasmids. They contain multiple att sites introduced at the ends of the integrated plasmids, and in the presence of integrase, recombination between these att sites can be exploited to effect release of the plasmid components. These novel genetic elements can be used in a variety of ways as vectors in genetic manipulation experiments. Sequences cloned in phasmids may be studied as a component of either a plasmid and or of a phage, and easily interconverted between the two states.     

Cloning of bacteriophage T5 DNA fragments in plasmid pBR322 and bacteriophage lambda gtWES

Bacteriophage T5 was digested with the restriction endonucleases HindIII and EcoRI and the resulting fragments were inserted into the plasmid pBR322 and the bacteriophage lambda gtWES as vectors. Approx. 15% of the phage genome was recovered in recombinant clones. The recombinants were characterized by restriction analysis, DNA/DNA hybridization employing Southern blots, and ability to complement or recombine with amber mutants of T5. The results obtained allow revisions of the physical map of the T5 genome and partial correlation of the physical map with the genetic map.     

The site-specific deletion in plasmid pBR322

The formation of a deletion derivative of plasmid pBR322, designated pBR322 delta 1, was observed during cloning of various eukaryotic DNAs, when the BamHI site of the plasmid vector was used for construction of the recombinant molecules. The restriction analysis of six independently isolated pBR322 delta 1 plasmids allowed establishment of their complete identity. Similar deletion derivatives were also formed as a result of transformation of Escherichia coli cells by the linear form of vector pBR322 produced by BamHI cleavage, but not by SalI or HindIII. The endpoints of the deletion in one of the pBR322 delta 1 plasmids occurred at positions 375 and 16666 bp from the EcoRI site, as determined by sequence analysis. Formation of pBR322 delta 1 is most probably due to site-specific recombination between the sequence in the 1666-1670 bp region and the BamHI end of the linear pBR322 molecule. THe deletion was not controlled by the recA system of the host bacteria.     

Organization of type C viral DNA sequences endogenous to baboons: analysis with cloned viral DNA.

Unintegrated linear and circular forms of baboon endogenous type C virus M7 DNA were prepared from M7-infected cells by chromatography on hydroxyapatite columns, and the circular DNAs were purified in cesium chloride-ethidium bromide equilibrium density gradients. The circular DNAs were linearized by digestion with EcoRI, which had a unique site on the viral DNA. The linearized DNA was then inserted into lambda gtWES. lambda B at the EcoRI site and cloned in an approved EK2 host. Molecularly cloned full-length M7 DNA was restricted with BamHI, and the resulting five subgenomic fragments were then subcloned individually in plasmid pBR322. The organization and sites of integration of the approximately 100 copies of M7 DNA sequences endogenous to baboons were investigated by digesting the DNA with restriction enzymes and identifying the virus-specific fragments by hybridization to labeled probes made by using the molecularly cloned full-length and subgenomic fragments of the viral DNA. We found that most of the endogenous sequences had sizes and organizations similar to those of the unintegrated viral DNA and therefore approximately similar to the RNA of the infectious virus. A few of the multiple sequences had deletions in the 3' end (envelope region), and some of the sequences either lacked or contained modified BamHI restriction sites on the 5' end of the viral DNA. The endogenous viral DNA sequences were nontandem, uninterrupted, and colinear with the DNA of the infectious virus, and they were integrated at different sites in the baboon DNA, like the M7 proviral DNA sequences acquired upon infection.     

Identification of sequences necessary for packaging DNA into lambda phage heads

Several species of DNA molecules are packaged into lambda phage heads if they carry the region around the cohesive end site of lambda phage (cos lambda). The minimal functional sequence around cos lambda needed for packaging was examined by cloning in pBR322. The results showed that the minimal region contained 85 bp around cos lambda; 45 bp of the left arm of lambda phage and 40 bp of the right arm. A 75-bp region located to the right of the minimal region seems to enhance packaging. A 223-bp fragment containing these regions can be used as a portable element for plasmid DNA packaging into lambda phage heads. Plasmid ppBest 322, a derivative of pBR322 carrying this portable packager and both amp and tet genes, was constructed. This plasmid is useful for cloning of large DNA fragments.