Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1983 Sep;155(3):1015–1026. doi: 10.1128/jb.155.3.1015-1026.1983

Chromosome transfer and R-prime plasmid formation mediated by plasmid pULB113 (RP4::mini-Mu) in Alcaligenes eutrophus CH34 and Pseudomonas fluorescens 6.2.

P Lejeune, M Mergeay, F Van Gijsegem, M Faelen, J Gerits, A Toussaint
PMCID: PMC217794  PMID: 6411681

Abstract

Plasmid pULB113 (RP4::mini-Mu), which contains the mini-Mu transposon, promoted both homologous and heterologous gene transfer from Pseudomonas fluorescens 6.2 and Alcaligenes eutrophus CH34. Homologous gene transfer in P. fluorescens 6.2 and A. eutrophus CH34 occurred at a frequency of 10(-4) to 10(-5), and recombinants inherited unselected recessive markers, suggesting a process of chromosome mobilization. Loci involved in autotrophic growth were among those transferred in A. eutrophus. In heterospecific matings, markers were transferred from P. fluorescens to A. eutrophus, Salmonella typhimurium LT2, and Escherichia coli, from A. eutrophus to P. fluorescens, and from Erwinia carotovora subsp. chrysanthemi to A. eutrophus. Heterospecific matings resulted in the formation of R-prime plasmids at frequencies of 10(-7) to 10(-4) per transferred plasmid. When S. typhimurium was the recipient, we observed R-prime plasmids with both restriction-proficient and restriction-deficient strains, although restriction markedly affected the frequency of transfer of pULB113. R-prime plasmids were quite stable, but lost the transposed marker more easily in a rec+ background than in a recA background, suggesting excision of transposed material by reciprocal recombination between flanking copies of mini-Mu. R-prime plasmids could be transferred easily into different recipients and were used in complementation studies. PstI restriction digests of four R-prime plasmids carrying P. fluorescens 6.2 DNA showed a number of additional bands, suggesting that several genes were transposed together with the selected marker on the plasmid.

Full text

PDF
1015

Images in this article

1018Image
on p.1018

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Barrett J. T., Rhodes C. S., Ferber D. M., Jenkins B., Kuhl S. A., Ely B. Construction of a genetic map for Caulobacter crescentus. J Bacteriol. 1982 Mar;149(3):889–896. doi: 10.1128/jb.149.3.889-896.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Barth P. T. Plasmid RP4, with Escherichia coli DNA inserted in vitro, mediates chromosomal transfer. Plasmid. 1979 Jan;2(1):130–136. doi: 10.1016/0147-619x(79)90011-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Beck Y., Coetzee W. F., Coetzee J. N. In vitro-constructed RP4-prime plasmids mediate orientated mobilization of the Proteus morganii chromosome. J Gen Microbiol. 1982 Jun;128(6):1163–1169. doi: 10.1099/00221287-128-6-1163. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Beringer J. E., Hopwood D. A. Chromosomal recombination and mapping in Rhizobium leguminosarum. Nature. 1976 Nov 18;264(5583):291–293. doi: 10.1038/264291a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Betlach M., Hershfield V., Chow L., Brown W., Goodman H., Boyer H. W. A restriction endonuclease analysis of the bacterial plasmid controlling the ecoRI restriction and modification of DNA. Fed Proc. 1976 Jul;35(9):2037–2043. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bowien B., Schlegel H. G. Physiology and biochemistry of aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1981;35:405–452. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.35.100181.002201. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Clarke L., Carbon J. Functional expression of cloned yeast DNA in Escherichia coli: specific complementation of argininosuccinate lyase (argH) mutations. J Mol Biol. 1978 Apr 25;120(4):517–532. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(78)90351-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Coetzee J. N. Mobilization of the Proteus mirabilis chromosome by R plasmid R772. J Gen Microbiol. 1978 Sep;108(1):103–109. doi: 10.1099/00221287-108-1-103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Crawford I. P. Gene rearrangements in the evolution of the tryptophan synthetic pathway. Bacteriol Rev. 1975 Jun;39(2):87–120. doi: 10.1128/br.39.2.87-120.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Datta N., Hedges R. W., Shaw E. J., Sykes R. B., Richmond M. H. Properties of an R factor from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Bacteriol. 1971 Dec;108(3):1244–1249. doi: 10.1128/jb.108.3.1244-1249.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Espin G., Alvarez-Morales A., Merrick M. Complementation analysis of glnA-linked mutations which affect nitrogen fixation in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Mol Gen Genet. 1981;184(2):213–217. doi: 10.1007/BF00272907. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Faelen M., Resibois A., Toussaint A. Mini-mu: an insertion element derived from temperate phage mu-1. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1979;43(Pt 2):1169–1177. doi: 10.1101/sqb.1979.043.01.132. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Faelen M., Toussaint A. Bacteriophage Mu-1: a tool to transpose and to localize bacterial genes. J Mol Biol. 1976 Jul 5;104(3):525–539. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(76)90118-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Gunsalus C., Gunsalus C. F., Chakrabarty A. M., Sikes S., Crawford I. P. Fine structure mapping of the tryptophan genes in Pseudomonas putida. Genetics. 1968 Nov;60(3):419–435. doi: 10.1093/genetics/60.3.419. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Haas D., Holloway B. W. R factor variants with enhanced sex factor activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mol Gen Genet. 1976 Mar 30;144(3):243–251. doi: 10.1007/BF00341722. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hamada S. E., Luckey J. P., Farrand S. K. R-plasmid-mediated chromosomal gene transfer in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. J Bacteriol. 1979 Jul;139(1):280–286. doi: 10.1128/jb.139.1.280-286.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Hedges R. W., Jacob A. E., Crawford I. P. Wide ranging plasmid bearing the Pseudomonas aeruginosa tryptophan synthase genes. Nature. 1977 May 19;267(5608):283–284. doi: 10.1038/267283a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Holloway B. W. Isolation and characterization of an R' plasmid in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Bacteriol. 1978 Mar;133(3):1078–1082. doi: 10.1128/jb.133.3.1078-1082.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Holloway B. W., Krishnapillai V., Morgan A. F. Chromosomal genetics of Pseudomonas. Microbiol Rev. 1979 Mar;43(1):73–102. doi: 10.1128/mr.43.1.73-102.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Holloway B. W. Plasmids that mobilize bacterial chromosome. Plasmid. 1979 Jan;2(1):1–19. doi: 10.1016/0147-619x(79)90002-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Julliot J. S., Boistard P. Use of RP4-prime plasmids constructed in vitro to promote a polarized transfer of the chromosome in Escherichia coli and Rhizobium meliloti. Mol Gen Genet. 1979 Jun 20;173(3):289–298. doi: 10.1007/BF00268639. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kado C. I., Liu S. T. Rapid procedure for detection and isolation of large and small plasmids. J Bacteriol. 1981 Mar;145(3):1365–1373. doi: 10.1128/jb.145.3.1365-1373.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Kiss G. B., Dobo K., Dusha I., Breznovits A., Orosz L., Vincze E., Kondorosi A. Isolation and characterization of an R-prime plasmid from Rhizobium meliloti. J Bacteriol. 1980 Jan;141(1):121–128. doi: 10.1128/jb.141.1.121-128.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Lacy G. H., Leary J. V. Plasmid-mediated transmission of chromosomal genes in Pseudomonas glycinea. Genet Res. 1976 Jun;27(3):363–368. doi: 10.1017/s001667230001658x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Ludwig R. A., Johansen E. DnaG-suppressing variants of R68.45 with enhanced chromosome donating ability in Rhizobium. Plasmid. 1980 May;3(3):359–361. doi: 10.1016/0147-619x(80)90049-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Megias M., Caviedes M. A., Palomares A. J., Perezsilva J. Use of plasmid R68.45 for constructing a circular linkage map of the Rhizobium trifolii chromosome. J Bacteriol. 1982 Jan;149(1):59–64. doi: 10.1128/jb.149.1.59-64.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Mergeay M., Boyen A., Legrain C., Glansdorff N. Expression of Escherichia coli K-12 arginine genes in Pseudomonas fluorescens. J Bacteriol. 1978 Dec;136(3):1187–1188. doi: 10.1128/jb.136.3.1187-1188.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Mergeay M., Gerits J. F'-plasmid transfer from Escherichia coli to Pseudomonas fluorescens. J Bacteriol. 1978 Jul;135(1):18–28. doi: 10.1128/jb.135.1.18-28.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Mergeay M., Houba C., Gerits J. Extrachromosomal inheritance controlling resistance to cadmium, cobalt, copper and zinc ions: evidence from curing in a Pseudomonas [proceedings]. Arch Int Physiol Biochim. 1978 May;86(2):440–442. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Morgan A. F. Isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa R' plasmids constructed by interspecific mating. J Bacteriol. 1982 Feb;149(2):654–661. doi: 10.1128/jb.149.2.654-661.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Nagahari K., Sano Y., Sakaguchi K. Derepression of E. coli trp operon on interfamilial transfer. Nature. 1977 Apr 21;266(5604):745–746. doi: 10.1038/266745a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. SCHATZ A., BOVELL C., Jr Growth and hydrogenase activity of a new bacterium, Hydrogenomonas facilis. J Bacteriol. 1952 Jan;63(1):87–98. doi: 10.1128/jb.63.1.87-98.1952. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Saunders J. R., Grinsted J. Properties of RP4, an R factor which originated in Pseudomonas aeruginosa S8. J Bacteriol. 1972 Nov;112(2):690–696. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.2.690-696.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Sistrom W. R. Transfer of chromosomal genes mediated by plasmid r68.45 in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. J Bacteriol. 1977 Aug;131(2):526–532. doi: 10.1128/jb.131.2.526-532.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Smith H. R., Humphreys G. O., Grindley N. D., Grindley J. N., Anderson E. S. Molecular studies of an fi+ plasmid from strains of Salmonella typhimurium. Mol Gen Genet. 1973 Nov 2;126(2):143–151. doi: 10.1007/BF00330989. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Toussaint A., Faelen M., Résibois A. Chromosomal rearrangements induced by mini-Mu and mini-D108: mini review and new data. Gene. 1981 Jun-Jul;14(1-2):115–119. doi: 10.1016/0378-1119(81)90153-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Towner K. J., Vivian A. RP4-mediated conjugation in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. J Gen Microbiol. 1976 Apr;93(2):355–360. doi: 10.1099/00221287-93-2-355. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. VOGEL H. J., BONNER D. M. Acetylornithinase of Escherichia coli: partial purification and some properties. J Biol Chem. 1956 Jan;218(1):97–106. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Van Gijsegem F., Toussaint A. Chromosome transfer and R-prime formation by an RP4::mini-Mu derivative in Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis. Plasmid. 1982 Jan;7(1):30–44. doi: 10.1016/0147-619x(82)90024-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Van Gijsegem F., Toussaint A. In vivo cloning of Erwinia carotovora genes involved in the catabolism of hexuronates. J Bacteriol. 1983 Jun;154(3):1227–1235. doi: 10.1128/jb.154.3.1227-1235.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Willetts N. S., Crowther C., Holloway B. W. The insertion sequence IS21 of R68.45 and the molecular basis for mobilization of the bacterial chromosome. Plasmid. 1981 Jul;6(1):30–52. doi: 10.1016/0147-619x(81)90052-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES