An expression vector system providing plasmid stability and conditional suicide of plasmid-containing cells.
A cloning vector system was constructed on the basis of the pBR322 derivative pEG1 by introducing the whole parB locus of plasmid R1 cloned behind the promoter of the alkaline phosphatase gene (phoA) of Escherichia coli. The parB locus in combination with the phoA promoter ensures both (i) plasmid stabilization due to the post-segregational killing of plasmid-free cells during growth and (ii) killing of the cells induced by the potential environmental signal phosphate limitation. This vector, therefore, appears to be a model system for increasing the stability of recombinant plasmids and for decreasing the potential risks in the application of recombinant bacteria in industrial fermentations.
Schweder
T
T
Institut für Mikrobiologie, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Federal Republic of Germany.
Schmidt
I
I
Herrmann
H
H
Neubauer
P
P
Hecker
M
M
Hofmann
K
K
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D003264:Containment of Biohazards; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D007218:Industrial Microbiology; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012641:Selection, Genetic
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010710:Phosphates; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase