Intramolecular recombination of linear DNA catalyzed by the Escherichia coli RecE recombination system.
Transformation of different Escherichia coli strains by linear dimers of pBR322 containing different tet alleles was investigated. Linear dimers transformed wild-type strains 0.1 to 1% as efficiently as circular dimers. In contrast, linear dimers transformed recBrecCsbcA strains, where the RecE recombination system is functional, as efficiently as circular dimers. The transformants contained plasmids that had a single recombinant monomer genotype, indicating that transformation was mediated by a recombination-dependent cyclization reaction. Altering the position of the double-strand break changed the frequency of recovering different recombination products, but had no effect on the frequency of transformation. Both the frequency of transformation and the production of Tcr recombinants were decreased by recE mutations, while recA and recF mutations were slightly stimulatory (twofold). Several recombination models consistent with these results are presented.
D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010957:Plasmids; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; C038225:recE protein, E coli; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes