Effects of segregation and selection on instability of plasmid pACYC184 in Escherichia coli B.
We use a mathematical model to analyze the dynamics of loss of nonconjugative pACYC184 from populations of Escherichia coli B in glucose-limited continuous culture. This model incorporates both plasmid segregation and selection against plasmid carriage. It is concluded that there is intense selection against plasmid carriage (s = 0.3 per culture generation), which amplifies the frequency of segregants arising de novo.
Lenski
R E
RE
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine 92717.
Bouma
J E
JE
D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D008433:Mathematics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010957:Plasmids; D012641:Selection, Genetic