TY - JOUR
T1 - Two conjugation systems associated with Streptococcus faecalis plasmid pCF10
T2 - Identification of a conjugative transposon that transfers between S. faecalis and Bacillus subtilis
AU - Christie, P. J.
AU - Korman, R. Z.
AU - Zahler, S. A.
AU - Adsit, J. C.
AU - Dunny, G. M.
PY - 1987
Y1 - 1987
N2 - The tetracycline resistance plasmid pCF10 (58 kilobases [kb]) of Streptococcus faecalis possesses two separate conjugation systems. A 25-kb region of the plasmid (designated TRA) was shown previously to determine pheromone response and conjugation functions required for transfer of pCF10 between S.faecalis cells (P.J.Christie and G.M. Dunny, Plasmid 15:230-241, 1986). When S. faecalis cells were mixed with Bacillus subtilis in broth, tetracycline resistance was transferred from S. faecalis. The tetracycline-resistant B. subtilis cells contained a 16-kb region of pCF10 (distinct from TRA) that carried the tetracycline resistance determinant (Tet(r)). This Tet(r) element was found to transfer between S. faecalis and B. subtilis strains in the absence of plasmids. Genetic and molecular techniques were used to establish locations of the element at several different sites on the B. subtilis chromosome. The Tet(r) element could be transferred in filter matings from B. subtilis to S. faecalis strains and between recombination-proficient and -deficient S. faecalis strains in the absence of any plasmid DNA. The transfer required direct cell-to-cel contact and was not inhibited by DNase. The Tet(r) element was shown to transpose fromthe S. faecalis chromosome to various locations within the hemolysin plasmid pAD1. Together, the data indicate that the Tet(r) element, termed transposon Tn925, is very similar to the conjugative transposon Tn916 in both structure and function. A derivative of Tn925, containing transposon Tn917 inserted into a site ~3 kb from one end, exhibited elevated transfer frequencies and may provide a useful means for delivering Tn917 by conjugation into various gram-positive species.
AB - The tetracycline resistance plasmid pCF10 (58 kilobases [kb]) of Streptococcus faecalis possesses two separate conjugation systems. A 25-kb region of the plasmid (designated TRA) was shown previously to determine pheromone response and conjugation functions required for transfer of pCF10 between S.faecalis cells (P.J.Christie and G.M. Dunny, Plasmid 15:230-241, 1986). When S. faecalis cells were mixed with Bacillus subtilis in broth, tetracycline resistance was transferred from S. faecalis. The tetracycline-resistant B. subtilis cells contained a 16-kb region of pCF10 (distinct from TRA) that carried the tetracycline resistance determinant (Tet(r)). This Tet(r) element was found to transfer between S. faecalis and B. subtilis strains in the absence of plasmids. Genetic and molecular techniques were used to establish locations of the element at several different sites on the B. subtilis chromosome. The Tet(r) element could be transferred in filter matings from B. subtilis to S. faecalis strains and between recombination-proficient and -deficient S. faecalis strains in the absence of any plasmid DNA. The transfer required direct cell-to-cel contact and was not inhibited by DNase. The Tet(r) element was shown to transpose fromthe S. faecalis chromosome to various locations within the hemolysin plasmid pAD1. Together, the data indicate that the Tet(r) element, termed transposon Tn925, is very similar to the conjugative transposon Tn916 in both structure and function. A derivative of Tn925, containing transposon Tn917 inserted into a site ~3 kb from one end, exhibited elevated transfer frequencies and may provide a useful means for delivering Tn917 by conjugation into various gram-positive species.
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U2 - 10.1128/jb.169.6.2529-2536.1987
DO - 10.1128/jb.169.6.2529-2536.1987
M3 - Article
C2 - 3034859
AN - SCOPUS:0023219960
SN - 0021-9193
VL - 169
SP - 2529
EP - 2536
JO - Journal of bacteriology
JF - Journal of bacteriology
IS - 6
ER -