Characterization of the mobilization determinants of pAN12, a small replicon from Rhodococcus erythropolis AN12.

TitleCharacterization of the mobilization determinants of pAN12, a small replicon from Rhodococcus erythropolis AN12.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsYang, JC, Lessard, PA, Sinskey, AJ
JournalPlasmid
Volume57
Issue1
Pagination71-81
Date Published2007 Jan
ISSN0147-619X
KeywordsBase Sequence, Conjugation, Genetic, Molecular Sequence Data, Plasmids, Replicon, Rhodococcus
Abstract

Bacteria belonging to the Gram-positive actinomycete species, Rhodococcus erythropolis, are diverse not only in terms of metabolic potentials but the plasmids they encode. It was shown previously that the R. erythropolis AN12 genome harbors a 6.3kb cryptic plasmid called pAN12, which is a member of the pIJ101 family of plasmids. Here we show that pAN12 is conjugatively mobilizable into other rhodococcal strains. A series of plasmid deletion constructs were tested for loss of mobility to identify the pAN12 cis-acting conjugation requirement. In this way, an approximately 700bp region was found to be required for plasmid transmission. A small 61bp element within this region confers mobility to an otherwise non-mobilizable plasmid. Unlike pIJ101, which encodes all necessary factors for transfer, pAN12 mobility is dependent on the presence of an AN12 megaplasmid, pREA400.

DOI10.1016/j.plasmid.2006.08.001
Alternate JournalPlasmid
Citation Key159
PubMed ID17030377