title: The RLEP-flanked polA gene from Mycobacterium leprae is not transcribed in Mycobacterium smegmatis.
abstract: A polA mutant of Mycobacterium smegmatis (Ms) lacking DNA polymerase activity could not support the replication of a pAL5000-derived plasmid or a derivative harbouring the RLEP-flanked polA gene from M. leprae (Mlep). In contrast, the plasmid containing the M. tuberculosis polA gene transformed the mutant with high efficiency and complemented its damage-sensitive phenotype suggesting that the replication of the pAL5000 origin is dependent on host PolI function and that the RLEP-flanked Mlep polA gene is not expressed in Ms.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Unit, South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Gordhan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mizrahi
mesh_terms: D004256:DNA Polymerase I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004260:DNA Repair; D004261:DNA Replication; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000235:genetics*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D004256:DNA Polymerase I