Molecular cloning and study of the expression of a region of a diphtheria toxin gene encoding fragment A of the Streptomyces lividans 66 strain

The shuttle plasmid pVG202 containing a part of diphtheria toxin gene coding for fragment A has been constructed. S. lividans strain 66 has been transformed by the plasmid pVG202 DNA. The presence of the hybrid plasmid in S. lividans 66 cells determines the production of catalytically active toxoid secreted into the cultural liquid medium. The deleted plasmid pVG205 which determines for the increased catalytic activity has been selected and shown to be stably inherited by the bacterial cells.     

Isolation and characterization of a new plasmid pSpnP1 from a multidrug-resistant clone of Streptococcus pneumoniae

A novel Streptococcus pneumoniae plasmid (pSpnP1; 5413bp) has been isolated from the multidrug-resistant clone Poland(23F)-16, and its complete nucleotide sequence has been determined. Sequence analysis predicted seven co-directional open reading frames and comparative analyses revealed that plasmid pSpnP1 is different to pDP1, the only previously described pneumococcal plasmid, whereas it is highly similar to pSt08, a plasmid from Streptococcus thermophilus. A double-stranded origin for replication similar to the replication origin of the pC194/pUB110 family was located upstream of the putative rep gene (orf2). It also contained a 144-bp region with over 60% identity to the single-stranded origin type A of the Streptococcus agalactiae plasmid pMV158/pLS1. Detection of single-stranded DNA by Southern blot analysis indicated that pSpnP1 replicates via a rolling circle mechanism. Interestingly, the product of orf1 has a putative Zonular occludens toxin conserved domain present in toxigenic strains of Vibrio cholerae. Real-time PCR assays revealed that this ORF was expressed. Hybridization experiments showed that the pSpnP1 replicon was unusual among other examined antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal clones, although the recombinant plasmids based on pSpnP1 were able to replicate in Bacillus subtilis and Lactococcus lactis.     

Microcin R51 and a plasmid determining its synthesis

A new microcin produced by an Citrobacter R51 strain has been detected. This antibiotic has been shown to inhibit the growth of a number of Gram-negative as well as Gram-positive strains of bacteria on the minimal medium plates. The properties of partially purified microcin were characterized. Constitutive synthesis of microcin is determined by a conjugative plasmid. The genes of microcin synthesis and immunity were cloned on a plasmid and plasmid vehicles. A physical map of the 12 kb fragment coding for the production of microcin R51 and immunity to this antibiotic is presented.     

Octopine and nopaline synthesis and breakdown genetically controlled by a plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Summary Several nopaline degrading strains and one octopine degrading strain are shown to loose oncogenicity as well as the ability to utilize these guanidine compounds when they are cured of their TI plasmid. To investigate whether the specific genes involved in the utilization of one or the other compound are located on the plasmid, plasmid-transfer experiments have been performed.The plasmid from a nopaline degrading strain has been transferred to a naturally non oncogenic Agrobacterium namely A. radiobacter. Furthermore, the plasmid from an octopine degrading strain has been transferred to a plasmid-cured strain which originally had the capacity to utilize nopaline. Both kinds of experiments prove that the TI plasmid determines the strain specificity with regard to the utilization of either octopine or nopaline.They also demonstrate that the synthesis of either octopine or nopaline in crown gall cells is also determined by genes located on the TI plasmid harboured by the transforming A. tumefaciens strains.     

Characterization of a cryptic plasmid (p0M1) inButyrivibrio fibrisolvens by restriction endonuclease analysis and its cloning inEscherichia coli

A small cryptic plasmid has been identified in a strain of the ruminal bacteriumButyrivibrio fibrisolvens. This plasmid has been isolated and purified. It is approximately 2.8 kbp in length and contains restriction sites for a number of common endonucleases including single sites for EcoRI, PvuII, and PstI. A map of the plasmid restriction sites has been constructed. This plasmid, designated p0M1, has been ligated to pBR325, pAT153, and pHV33 and transformed intoEscherichia coli, and the resulting hybrid plasmids have been mapped. The possible uses of such hybrid plasmids for gene cloning inB. fibrisolvens are discussed.     

Physical characterization of a plasmid (pTT1) isolated from Thermus thermophilus

A small circular supercoiled DNA molecule species with a molecular weight of about 5.4 × 10⁶ has been isolated from the extreme thermophile Thermus thermophilus HB8. This plasmid (pTT1) has a G plus C content of 68%, similar to that of the host chromosome. The superhelix density is the same as that of bacteriophage PM2 DNA. A physical map of the plasmid has been obtained using restriction endonucleases.     

A new vector derived from Agrobacterium rhizogenes plasmids: a micro-Ri plasmid and its use to construct a mini-Ri plasmid

A new binary vector system has been constructed, based on agropine-type root-inducing plasmid (pRi) left transferred-region border sequences cloned in a plasmid containing the replication origin of another A. rhizogenes plasmid (pArA4a). This micro-pRi has been used to introduce a chimeric kanamycin resistance gene into tobacco plants, vir functions being provided by either octopine or nopaline tumor-inducing plasmids deleted of their own transferred regions. In addition, we show that cloning of pRi EcoRI fragment 15, which contains three open reading frames (which may correspond to loci rolA, B and C), in the micro-Ri vector generates a mini-pRi capable of inducing the proliferation of transformed roots.     

Structural and functional analysis of cloned DNA segments containing the replication and incompatibility regions of a miniplasmid derived from a copy number mutant of NR1.

A 1.45-megadalton segment of DNA cloned from a miniplasmid derived in vivo from a copy number mutant of the R plasmid NR1 has been shown to contain all functions essential for incompatibility and autonomous plasmid replication in Escherichia coli. Specific endonuclease cleavage sites within this DNA segment that localize functions required for replication have been mapped. A 0.45-megadalton fragment that specifies the FII incompatibility of NR1 has been identified within the replication region, and DNA fragments containing this incompatibility region, but lacking other functions required for replication, have been cloned.     

Physical mapping of a plasmid from Bacillus megaterium by restriction endonuclease cleavage.

A 4-Mdalton plasmid from Bacillus megaterium strain 216 has been physically mapped by restriction endonuclease digestion. A combination of single and double digests with seven restriction enzymes, together with a terminal labeling procedure, has produced a physical map containing 21 apparently unique cleavage sites. The data are most consistent with the view that this plasmid does not contain extensive variability in sequence.     

Physical Characterization of Plasmid pMQV10 from a Steroid Biotransforming Strain of Micrococcus

The presence of a single plasmid 8.5 kb in size has been demonstrated in a cholesterol biotransforming strain of Micrococcus. A detailed physical map of the plasmid has been constructed using various restriction enzymes. Streptomycin resistance has been localized on a 1.8-kb fragment of pMQV10.     

The IncP-6 plasmid Rms149 consists of a small mobilizable backbone with multiple large insertions

Plasmid Rms149, the archetype of Pseudomonas plasmid incompatibility group IncP-6, was identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an agent conferring resistance to streptomycin, sulfanilamide, gentamicin, and carbenicillin in 1975. It has been classed as a broad-host-range plasmid due to its ability to replicate in both Escherichia coli (where it is designated IncG) and Pseudomonas species, although both species are gamma-proteobacteria. To provide reference information on this Inc group, we have determined the complete sequence of Rms149 and found that, although the genome comprises 57,121 bp, it is essentially a small mobilizable plasmid carrying multiple mobile elements, which make up 79% (>45 kb) of its genome. A replicon has been identified which encodes a single polypeptide with moderate identity to other replication proteins. The region encoding this protein can replicate in Pseudomonas putida and E. coli. This sequence is directly downstream of a putative partitioning region highly similar to that of pRA2. A functional IncQ-type mobilization region is also present. Thus, the backbone appears to be a novel combination of modules already identified in other plasmid systems. Analysis of the segments that fall outside this core of stable inheritance and transfer functions show that this plasmid has been subject to multiple insertion events and that the plasmid appears to carry a considerable load of DNA that no longer should be phenotypically advantageous. The plasmid therefore functions not just as a vehicle for spread of selective traits but also as a store for DNA that is not currently under selection.     

Jekyll, a family of phage-plasmid shuttle vectors

A series of shuttle vectors has been constructed, which consist of a plasmid carrying a polylinker sequence and an M13 origin integrated into a lambda vector. A short direct repeat flanking the plasmid allows plasmid excision by homologous recombination. Sequences are cloned into unique restriction sites within the plasmid, and can be recovered either in phage or plasmid form, or can be packaged further as single-stranded DNA phage. These vectors therefore combine the efficiency of phage lambda cloning and screening with the ease of handling or analysing plasmid or M13 clones.     

Characterization of a plasmid from moderately halophilic eubacteria.

A plasmid has been isolated for the first time from moderately halophilic eubacteria. Halomonas elongata, Halomonas halmophila, Deleya halophila and Vibrio costicola were found to harbour an 11.5 kbp plasmid (pMH1). The plasmid was isolated and characterized after transformation into Escherichia coli JM101 cells. A restriction map was constructed, and unique restriction sites for EcoRI, EcoRV and ClaI were detected. The occurrence of such a plasmid in the original halophilic strains was confirmed by Southern hybridization. The plasmid carries genetic determinants that mediate resistance to kanamycin, tetracycline, and neomycin. This property, together with its relatively small size, its stability in E. coli cells, and the presence of unique restriction sites, makes pMH1 a good candidate for the development of a cloning vector for moderate halophiles.     

Genetic Transformation System for a Psychrotrophic Deep-sea Bacterium: Isolation and Characterization of a Psychrotrophic Plasmid

A versatile system that permits genetic manipulation of a psychrotrophic deep-sea bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp. PS1M3, has been developed. A cryptic indigenous plasmid, pPS1M3, of 3.1 kb from the above strain was isolated and characterized. The nucleotide sequence analysis of plasmid pPS1M3 revealed the presence of one open reading frame, and its deduced amino acid sequence was identified as the essential protein for plasmid maintenance. Transformation with the pPS1M3 harboring antibiotic resistance genes by electroporation was fully successful using the pPS1M3-cured strain as a host. This plasmid was quite stable under nonselective culture conditions for about 100 generations at 4°C. The copy number of this plasmid in the cell was about 5 copies per chromosome. Received May 30, 2000; accepted October 11, 2000.     

The isolation and restriction mapping of a miniplasmid from the Actinomycete Nocardia corallina

Abstract A variety of plasmids has been identified as covalently closed circular and linear DNA in certain Actinomycetes, such as Streptomyces . This paper describes the first isolation and characterisation of a plasmid from the genus Nocardia . The plasmid pKU100 isolated from Nocardia corallina is a cccDNA molecule, 2.7 kb in length. This plasmid has been mapped with a wide variety of restriction enzymes and contains a number of unique restriction sites making it suitable for development as a cloning vector.     

Isolation and characterization of a linear DNA plasmid from Streptomyces clavuligerus

Summary A linear DNA plasmid (pSCL) has been isolated from Streptomyces clavuligerus by a method employing high concentrations of protease. Rate-zonal sedimentation on sucrose gradients was used to purify the plasmid. The plasmid is 12 kb in length and appears to be linked to protein at its 5 termini. A restriction endonuclease map of the plasmid for ten enzymes has been determined. Evidence for terminally repeated sequences is provided by cross-hybridization analysis.     

Efficient cloning of a mutant adenylate-kinase-encoding gene from Escherichia coli

An optimized system has been developed for the transfer of a mutant gene from the Escherichia coli chromosome to a plasmid carrying the wild type (wt) allele. The wt allele was first cloned into a low-copy-number, self-transmissible plasmid with a single EcoRI, HindIII, and BamHI site. The plasmid was then transferred to a mutant strain that had been previously transformed with a high-copy-number plasmid carrying the recA+ gene to allow efficient homologous recombination. A 15% frequency of homogenotization was obtained during cloning of an adk gene that encodes a temperature-sensitive adenylate kinase (AK). The mutant AK had decreased mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels compared with the wt enzyme. This was due to a point mutation that changed leucine-107 in the wt enzyme to glutamine-107 in the mutant enzyme as determined by nucleotide sequencing.     

Analysis of a 1.6-μm circular plasmid from the yeast Kluyveromyces drosophilarum: Structure and molecular dimorphism

A new plasmid has been found in the yeast Kluyveromyces drosophilarum. It is a double-stranded circular DNA, 1.6 micron in length (4.8 kilobase pairs). As in the case of Saccharomyces 2 mu circles, this plasmid occurs in two isomeric forms corresponding to the inversion of a segment between two 346-bp-long inverted repeats within the molecule. Each form has been separately cloned into bacterial plasmids. The new yeast plasmid, called pKD1, contains sequences that allow its replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

Isolation of a nontransmissible antibiotic resistance plasmid by transductional shortening of R factor RP1.

A plasmid segregant carrying tetracycline and carbenicillin resistance markers has been isolated from R factor RP1 by transductional shortening with phage P22. The new plasmid RP1-S2, which has a molecular weight of 23 times 10-6, has lost the transfer, phage sensitivity, and neomycin resistance functions of RP1. It combines readily with a W group plasmid, R388, to form a transmissible carbenicillin and trimethoprim resistance plasmid, RWP1.