The TraB protein, which mediates the intermycelial transfer of the Streptomyces plasmid pSN22, has functional NTP-binding motifs and is localized to the cytoplasmic membrane

The traB gene on the Streptomyces conjugative plasmid pSN22 is required for intermycelial plasmid transfer and the mobilization of chromosomal markers (Cma). The predicted amino acid sequence of TraB contains one Walker type-A and two type-B NTP-binding motifs. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the type-A motif and one of the type-B motifs, 109 amino acid residues downstream of the type-A motif, were essential for both plasmid transfer and Cma. The second type-B sequence could be changed without any phenotypic effect. A modified traB gene was constructed, resulting in the production of a functional protein with an amino-terminal c-Myc epitope tag for immunological analysis. This protein was associated with the cytoplasmic membrane, suggesting that TraB is a membrane protein that uses energy from ATP hydrolysis to transport DNA between mycelia. The c-Myc tagging of TraB decreased the efficiency of intramycelial plasmid spread, suggesting that TraB is involved in both inter- and intramycelial transfer processes.     

植物乳杆菌KLDS1.0728质粒p141的分子分析

对分离自植物乳杆菌KLDS1.0728的质粒p141进行了全序列测定,结果显示,该质粒全长为3597bp,平均G+Cmol%值为38%,并利用DNAMAN6.0软件得到该质粒限制性内切酶图谱。经NCBI网站ORFFinder软件分析确定其编码序列即ORF为15个,通过与公共数据库比对,发现可以识别功能的ORF有2个,其中包括质粒复制所必需的rep基因,p141的rep基因与已知序列的植物乳杆菌WCFS1内源质粒pWCFS101以及植物乳杆菌内源质粒pM4的复制蛋白基因相似性高达91%。根据rep基因的相似性比较,判断p141的复制模式归属于RCR模式的GroupIII组,即pC194家族。另外,还发现质粒p141中存在mob基因,表明该质粒具有水平转移能力。但没有发现Tn4430转座子以及转座酶基因topl和topA,所以可以判断该质粒的基因比较稳定。此外,还发现该质粒序列中存在一定的与质粒复制和转移调控以及蛋白质表达等有关的重复序列,其对调控质粒的拷贝数有一定意义。     

The PagN protein mediates invasion via interaction with proteoglycan

Streptomyces linear plasmids start replication at centrally located loci, usually consisting of iterons and adjacent rep genes. Here, we identified four new replication loci from Streptomyces linear plasmids. A discontinuous locus, consisting of two genes and iterons separated by two nonessential genes, was required for replication of pRL2 in both linear and circular modes. A temperature-sensitive plasmid, pRL4, contained a replication locus, a noncoding sequence and a SAP1.35 -like gene. A telomere-adjacent locus, another noncoding sequence and SAP1.1 -like gene, was identified for replication of the large plasmid pFRL2. The replication locus of pSHK1 consisted of SCP1- rep -like genes and iterons. These results indicate an unexpected variety of components, positions and combinations of replication loci among Streptomyces linear plasmids.     

The complete nucleotide sequence of the resistance plasmid R478: defining the backbone components of incompatibility group H conjugative plasmids through comparative genomics

Horizontal transfer of resistance determinants amongst bacteria can be achieved by conjugative plasmid DNA elements. We have determined the complete 274,762 bp sequence of the incompatibility group H (IncH) plasmid R478, originally isolated from the Gram negative opportunistic pathogen Serratia marcescens. This self-transferable extrachromosomal genetic element contains 295 predicted genes, of which 144 are highly similar to coding sequences of IncH plasmids R27 and pHCM1. The regions of similarity among these three IncH plasmids principally encode core plasmid determinants (i.e., replication, partitioning and stability, and conjugative transfer) and we conducted a comparative analysis to define the minimal IncHI plasmid backbone determinants. No resistance determinants are included in the backbone and most of the sequences unique to R478 were contained in a large contiguous region between the two transfer regions. These findings indicate that plasmid evolution occurs through gene acquisition/loss predominantly in regions outside of the core determinants. Furthermore, a modular evolution for R478 was signified by the presence of gene neighbors or operons that were highly related to sequences from a wide range of chromosomal, transposon, and plasmid elements. The conjugative transfer regions are most similar to sequences encoded on SXT, Rts1, pCAR1, R391, and pRS241d. The dual partitioning modules encoded on R478 resemble numerous sequences; including pMT1, pCTX-M3, pCP301, P1, P7, and pB171. R478 also codes for resistance to tetracycline (Tn10), chloramphenicol (cat), kanamycin (aphA), mercury (similar to Tn21), silver (similar to pMG101), copper (similar to pRJ1004), arsenic (similar to pYV), and tellurite (two separate regions similar to IncHI2 ter determinants and IncP kla determinants). Other R478-encoded sequences are related to Tn7, IS26, tus, mucAB, and hok, where the latter is surrounded by insLKJ, and could potentially be involved in post-segregation killing. The similarity to a diverse set of bacterial sequences highlights the ability of horizontally transferable DNA elements to acquire and disseminate genetic traits through the bacterial gene pool.     

Intergeneric transfer of the Enterococcus faecalis plasmid pIP501 to Escherichia coli and Streptomyces lividans and sequence analysis of its tra region

The nucleotide sequence of the transfer (tra) region of the multiresistance broad-host-range Inc18 plasmid pIP501 was completed. The 8629-bp DNA sequence encodes 10 open reading frames (orf), 9 of them are possibly involved in pIP501 conjugative transfer. The putative pIP501 tra gene products show highest similarity to the respective ORFs of the conjugative Enterococcus faecalis plasmids pRE25 and pAMbeta1, and the Streptococcus pyogenes plasmid pSM19035, respectively. ORF7 and ORF10 encode putative homologues of type IV secretion systems involved in transport of effector molecules from pathogens to host cells and in conjugative plasmid transfer in Gram-negative (G-) bacteria. pIP501 mobilized non-selftransmissible plasmids such as pMV158 between different E. faecalis strains and from E. faecalis to Bacillus subtilis. Evidence for the very broad-host-range of pIP501 was obtained by intergeneric conjugative transfer of pIP501 to a multicellular Gram-positive (G+) bacterium, Streptomyces lividans, and to G- Escherichia coli. We proved for the first time pIP501 replication, expression of its antibiotic resistance genes as well as functionality of the pIP501 tra genes in S. lividans and E. coli.     

Genetic relationship among Bacillus licheniformis rolling-circle-replicating plasmids and complete nucleotide sequence of pBL63.1, an atypical replicon

The degree of biodiversity among Bacillus licheniformis plasmids and their relation to other Bacillus subtilis group plasmids has been evaluated. To attain this goal we surveyed the diversity and linkage of replication modules in a collection of 21 naturally occurring plasmids of B. licheniformis strains, isolated from different geographical areas. On the basis of rep gene sequence analysis it was possible to group the B. licheniformis plasmids rep genes in two main cluster. Comparison with known rep genes from Bacillus rolling-circle-replicating (RCR) plasmids revealed the presence in B. licheniformis plasmids of replication genes with a DNA sequence peculiar to B. licheniformis species together with rep genes with a very high sequence similarity to B. subtilis plasmids. Furthermore, the molecular organization of an atypical replicon, pBL63.1, was shown. This plasmid did not display any significant similarity with known Bacillus RCR plasmids. The complete nucleotide sequence evidenced a replication module with an unexpected similarity with Rep proteins from RCR plasmids of bacterial species phylogenetically distantly related to Bacillus. pBL63.1 represents an exception to the low-level diversity hypothesis among Bacillus RC replicons.     

Five genes involved in self-transmission of pSN22, a Streptomyces plasmid.

An 11-kbp multicopy plasmid, pSN22, was isolated from Streptomyces nigrifaciens SN22. pSN22 is self-transmissible (conjugative), is maintained stably in S. lividans, and forms pocks in a wide range of Streptomyces strains. Mutational analyses showed that a fragment of pSN22 contained five genes involved in plasmid transfer and pock formation. traB was essential for plasmid transfer. traA was required for pock formation, but not for plasmid transfer. spdA or spdB were concerned with pock size; mutations in these genes decreased pock size. The fifth gene, traR, could be deleted together with other genes to give nontransmissible plasmids, but plasmids with insertions or deletions only within traR became nonviable. traR is probably needed to counterbalance the lethal effects of another plasmid gene. Transfer of pSN22 promoted the cotransfer of nontransmissible plasmids and enhanced chromosome recombination between the host and recipient strains, suggesting that plasmid transfer accompanies cytoplasmic mixing.     

Characterization of replication and conjugation of Streptomyces circular plasmids pFP1 and pFP11 and their ability to propagate in linear mode with artificially attached telomeres

Many Streptomyces species harbor circular plasmids (8 to 31 kb) as well as linear plasmids (12 to 1,700 kb). We report the characterization of two newly detected circular plasmids, pFP11 (35,139 bp) and pFP1 (39,360 bp). As on linear plasmids, their replication loci comprise repA genes and adjacent iterons, to which RepA proteins bind specifically in vitro. Plasmids containing the minimal iterons plus the repA locus of pFP11 were inherited extremely unstably; par and additional loci were required for stable inheritance. Surprisingly, plasmids containing replication loci from pFP11 or Streptomyces circular plasmid SCP2 but not from pFP1, SLP1, or pIJ101 propagated in a stable linear mode when the telomeres of a linear plasmid were attached. These results indicate bidirectional replication for pFP11 and SCP2. Both pFP11 and pFP1 contain, for plasmid transfer, a major functional traB gene (encoding a DNA translocase typical for Streptomyces plasmids) as well as, surprisingly, a putative traA gene (encoding a DNA nickase, characteristic of single-stranded DNA transfer of gram-negative plasmids), but this did not appear to be functional, at least in isolation.     

Sinorhizobium meliloti plasmid pRm1132f replicates by a rolling-circle mechanism

pRm1132f isolated from Sinorhizobium meliloti is a group III rolling-circle-replicating (RCR) plasmid. At least seven of eight open reading frames in the nucleotide sequence represented coding regions. The minimal replicon contained a rep gene and single- and double-stranded origins of replication. Detection of single-stranded plasmid DNA confirmed that pRm1132f replicated via an RCR mechanism.     

Genetic analysis of bacterial plasmid promiscuity

The genetic basis of the promiscuous behaviour of bacterial plasmids has been investigated by study of the incompatibility P-1 group of conjugative plasmids of gram-negative bacteria. Both transposon mutagenesis and the construction of minireplicons linking varying combinations of the plasmid genome have shown that specific genomic regions control the conjugational transfer and vegetative replication of the plasmid in specific bacterial hosts. These include the plasmid DNA primase gene, the origin of plasmid transfer, a region near the origin of transfer, the origin of plasmid vegetative replication, thetrans- acting gene essential for the initiation of plasmid replication and a region involved in its regulation. DNA sequence analysis has identified the requirement of specific direct repeats within the origin of replication for plasmid replication in some but not in other hosts. The cloning of some of the trans-acting genes onto multicopy cloning vectors and complementation tests have shown that the requirements of these gene products vary in different hosts and that the plasmid has evolved genetic strategies for their optimal expression.     

Characterization of the Tra2 Region of the IncHI1 Plasmid R27

In this study, the DNA sequence of one of the transfer regions of the IncHI1 plasmid R27 was determined. This region, which corresponds to coordinates 0-40 on the R27 map has been called the Tra2 region, and is believed to be involved in mating pair formation. DNA sequence analysis of the transfer region identified 11 open reading frames which showed similarities to the transfer genes from other conjugative systems. The R27 transfer genes appear to most closely resemble the genes from the F plasmid and Sphingomonas aromaticivorans plasmid pNL1, both within the individual genes and in the overall gene order. The Tra2 region is also distinct in that replication, partitioning, and stability genes are found in the middle of the transfer region. The R27 Tra2 region also contains a gene, trhF, which appears to be related to the TraF genes of Agrobacterium and Rhizobium species. This, along with the temperature-sensitive transfer system found in both H plasmids and Agrobacterium, leads to the speculation that the R27 transfer region evolved from both ancestral F-like and P-like plasmids.     

Sequence analysis of two cryptic plasmids from Bifidobacterium longum DJO10A and construction of a shuttle cloning vector

Bifidobacterium longum DJO10A is a recent human isolate with probiotic characteristics and contains two plasmids, designated pDOJH10L and pDOJH10S. The complete sequences of both these plasmids have now been determined and consist of two circular DNA molecules of 10,073 and 3,661 bp, with G+C contents of 62.2% and 66.2%, respectively. Plasmid pDOJH10L is a cointegrate plasmid consisting of DNA regions exhibiting very high sequence identity to two other B. longum plasmids, pNAC2 (98%) and pKJ50 (96%), together with another region. Interestingly, the rolling circular replication (RCR) regions of both the pNAC2- and pKJ50-like plasmids were disrupted during the recombination event leading to a further recombination event to acquire a functional replicon. This consists of a new fused rep gene and an RCR-type ori consisting of a conserved DnaA box in an AT-rich region followed by four contiguous repeated sequences consistent with an iteron structure and an inverted repeat. The smaller pDOJH10S had no sequence similarity to any other characterized plasmid from bifidobacteria. In addition, it did not contain any features consistent with RCR, which is the replication mechanism proposed for all the bifidobacteria plasmids characterized to date. It did exhibit sequence similarity with several theta replication-related replication proteins from other gram-positive, high-G+C bacteria, with the closest match from a Rhodococcus rhodochrous plasmid, suggesting a theta mechanism of replication. S1 nuclease analysis of both plasmids in B. longum DJO10A revealed single-strand DNA intermediates for pDOJH10L, which is consistent for RCR, but none were detected for pDOJH10S. As the G+C content of pDOJH10S is similar to that of Rhodococcus rhodochrous (67%) and significantly higher than that of B. longum (60.1%), it may have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer from a Rhodococcus species, as both genera are members of the Actinomycetes and are intestinal inhabitants. An Escherichia coli-B. longum shuttle cloning vector was constructed from pDOJH10S and the E. coli ori region of p15A, a lacZ gene with a multiple cloning site of pUC18, and a chloramphenicol resistance gene (CAT) of pCI372 and was transformed successfully into E. coli and B. longum. It could not be introduced into lactic acid bacteria (Lactococcus and Lactobacillus), showing it was not very promiscuous. It was stably maintained in B. longum in the absence of antibiotic pressure for 92 generations, which is consistent with the segregational stability of theta-replicating plasmids in gram-positive bacteria. This is the first cloning vector for bifidobacteria that does not utilize RCR and should be useful for the stable introduction of heterologous genes into these dominant inhabitants of the large intestine.     

链霉菌小质粒pDYM4.3k的复制与接合转移

【目的】链霉菌(Streptomyces)X335是从西藏高原活拉山口分离到的,其中含有一个大小为4.3 kb的环型质粒pDYM4.3k。克隆、测序和分析pDYM4.3k,以及鉴定复制和接合转移的基因。【方法】通过克隆和引物延伸获得pDYM4.3k的全序列,利用比对分析推测基因的功能,通过Southern杂交检测复制中间体,利用平板杂交实验证明接合转移功能。【结果】克隆和测序获得了全长为4346 bp的pDYM4.3k序列,预测仅有3个基因,其中1个基因与链霉菌主要接合转移基因同源,另外2个为功能未知。鉴定新的基因orf1及其上游的约300 bp构成了质粒的基本复制区域。检测到质粒存在单链的复制中间体,表明它以滚环方式进行复制。实验证明pDYM4.3k在变铅青链霉菌(Streptomyces lividans)中具有接合转移功能。【结论】质粒pDYM4.3k可以滚环方式进行复制和在链霉菌之间进行接合转移。这是目前报道的最小的、具有游离复制和接合转移功能的链霉菌质粒。     

Molecular genetic analysis of bacterial plasmid promiscuity

Abstract The molecular genetic basis of the promiscuity of the wide host range conjugative IncP-1α plasmids has been investigated by transposon mutagenesis and by the construction of minireplicons. The former has identified the origin of plasmid vegetative replication, the replication genes needed for initiation of plasmid replication, the DNA primase gene and a gene encoding a polypeptide of 52 kDa and mapping near the origin of plasmid transfer as all contributing to promiscuity. Minireplicon constructions confirm this conclusion but in addition establish that the origins of replication, transfer and other genomic regions produce complex interactions with respect to host range. DNA sequence analysis within the origin of replication show that the first direct repeat of the cluster of five repeats and sequences immediately 5' to it appear to be required in some ( Escherichia coli ) but not in other ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) hosts for plasmid replication.     

Molecular genetic analysis of bacterial plasmid promiscuity

The molecular genetic basis of the promiscuity of the wide host range conjugative IncP-1 alpha plasmids has been investigated by transposon mutagenesis and by the construction of minireplicons. The former has identified the origin of plasmid vegetative replication, the replication genes needed for initiation of plasmid replication, the DNA primase gene and a gene encoding a polypeptide of 52 kDa and mapping near the origin of plasmid transfer as all contributing to promiscuity. Minireplicon constructions confirm this conclusion but in addition establish that the origins of replication, transfer and other genomic regions produce complex interactions with respect to host range. DNA sequence analysis within the origin of replication show that the first direct repeat of the cluster of five repeats and sequences immediately 5' to it appear to be required in some (Escherichia coli) but not in other (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) hosts for plasmid replication.     

Replication regions of Sinorhizobium meliloti plasmids

The replication (rep) regions of small plasmids from three Sinorhizobium meliloti strains were cloned by marker rescue. Two unique replication regions were identified, one of which was common to two different strains. Plasmid pBB83 carried a 7.2 kbp rep region from a 42 kbp plasmid, and pBB84 carried a 4.5 kbp rep region from a 36 kbp plasmid. The cloned rep regions were of different compatibility types, and were capable of displacing their parent plasmids from S. meliloti. Neither could function in a PolA- strain of Escherichia coli. The cloned replication regions were less stable in S. meliloti than their parent plasmids. The rep genes for each plasmid were localized to less than 2.5 kbp segments. Sequencing data revealed that the pBB83 Rep protein is uncommon, with partial identity to a protein encoded by a plasmid from S. meliloti GR4 [Mercado-Blanco, J., Olivares, J., 1994. The large nonsymbiotic plasmid pRmeGR4a of Rhizobium meliloti GR4 encodes a protein involved in replication that has homology with the RepC protein of Agrobacterium plasmids. Plasmid 32, 75-79]. However, the cloned DNA fragment also contains a truncated segment of the common repABC genes, suggesting that the parent plasmid contained two sets of replication genes. Other genes and an IS-element within the insert are most closely related to sequences derived from the Rhizobiaceae family, suggesting that the plasmid has a limited host range. In contrast, the pBB84 rep region contained genes similar to those associated with several broad host-range plasmids, and its Rep protein is related to that of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa broad host-range plasmid, pVS1 [Heeb, S., Itoh, Y., Nishijyo, T., Schnider, U., Keel, C., Wade, J., Walsh, U., O'Gara, F., Haas, D., 2000. Small, stable shuttle vectors based on the minimal pVS1 replicon for use in gram-negative, plant-associated bacteria. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 13, 232-237]. The pBB84 rep region also includes a probable origin of replication, consisting of DNA boxes flanking a series of direct repeats and an AT-rich sequence.     

高温链霉菌质粒pTSC2的测序分析和滚环复制方式的鉴定

从猪粪堆肥中分离到一株编号为X3-3的可以在50℃高温生长的链霉菌菌株,该菌株含有一个约7kb的环型质粒pTSC2。【目的】克隆、测序和分析pTSC2,以及鉴定质粒的复制方式。【方法】利用分段克隆和引物延伸获得pTSC2的全序列,利用多序列比对寻找复制元件rep、dso和sso,利用中性转移和Southern杂交检测复制中间体。【结果】克隆和测序获得了全长为7516bp的pTSC2序列,预测编码8种蛋白,其中4种蛋白与链霉菌滚环复制的质粒pIJ101中负责复制和接合转移的蛋白非常相似。pTSC2的复制元件rep、dso和sso也与pIJ101的相似。克隆、转化变铅青链霉菌ZX7以及高温链霉菌2C证明了rep和dso为复制所必需元件。Southern杂交检测到pTSC2复制过程中积累了大量的单链DNA。【结论】高温链霉菌质粒pTSC2以滚环方式进行复制。这是首次在高温链霉菌中克隆和测序质粒,以及鉴定其复制方式。     

Genetic Organization of Plasmid pXF51 from the Plant Pathogen Xylella fastidiosa

The sequence of plasmid pXF51 from the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa, the causal agent of citrus variegated chlorosis, has been analyzed. This plasmid codes for 65 open reading frames (ORFs), organized into four main regions, containing genes related to replication, mobilization, and conjugative transfer. Twenty-five ORFs have no counterparts in the public sequence databases, and 7 are similar to conserved hypothetical proteins from other bacteria. A pXF51 incompatibility group has not been determined, as we could not find a typical replication origin. One cluster of conjugation-related genes (trb) seems to be incomplete in pXF51, and a copy of this sequence is found in the chromosome, suggesting it was generated by a duplication event. A second cluster (tra) contains all genes necessary for conjugation transfer to occur, showing a conserved organization with other conjugative plasmids. An identifiable origin of transfer similar to oriT from IncP plasmids is found adjacent to genes encoding two mobilization proteins. None of the ORFs with putative assigned function could be predicted as having a role in pathogenesis, except for a virulence-associated protein D homolog. These results indicate that even though pXF51 appears not to have a direct role in Xylella pathogenesis, it is a conjugative plasmid that could be important for lateral gene transfer in this bacterium. This property may be of great importance for future development of transformation techniques in X. fastidiosa.