Sequential transposition of Tn916 among Staphylococcus aureus protoplasts.
Transposition of the Streptococcus faecalis conjugal tetracycline-resistance transposon Tn916 between S. aureus strains occurred when protoplasts of donor and recipient strains were regenerated together without prior fusion. Under these conditions, only Tn916 was transferred; spontaneous fusion of parental protoplasts is therefore unlikely to be responsible for Tn916 transfer. While the exact nature of this transfer remains unclear, it appears to resemble Tn916 conjugal transposition reported in S. faecalis. Evidence for sequential transpositions of Tn916 was obtained by 3-factorial transformation analyses and confirmed by DNA-DNA hybridizations. The ability of Tn916 to transpose within S. aureus and occupy diverse chromosomal sites demonstrates the value of this transposon in genetic studies of S. aureus.
Yost
S C
SC
Department of Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011.
Jones
J M
JM
Pattee
P A
PA
D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D011523:Protoplasts / Q000502:physiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance / Q000235:genetics
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements