Asymmetric transcription of R plasmid NR1 in Proteus mirabilis.
The composite R plasmid NR1, its resistance transfer factor which specifies resistance to tetracycline (RTF-Tc component), and its r-determinants component were each denatured and centrifuged to equilibrium in CsCl density gradients containing polyuridylic acid-polyguanidylic acid. The complementary deoxyribonucleic acid strands of NR1 and the complementary strands of the RTF-Tc component could be separated by this technique because of a threefold difference in polyuridylic acid-polyguanidylic acid binding to the strands of the RTF-Tc component. The two strands of the r-determinants component bound equal amounts of polyuridylic acid-polyguanidylic acid. Hybridization of single strands of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid with in vivo-labeled ribonucleic acid from Proteus mirabilis containing NR1 indicated that transcription within the RTF-Tc component is from the NR1 strand which preferentially binds polyuridylic acid-polyguanidylic acid, whereas transcription within the r-determinants component is predominantly from the complementary strand.
D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000235:genetics; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D011815:R Factors; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004270:DNA, Circular; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D013752:Tetracycline