Plasmid maintenance renders bacteria more susceptible to heat stress.
The presence of shuttle plasmid pTS749 in the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans resulted in growth inhibition under heat stress conditions. This effect was dependent upon the growth stage of the inoculum used to initiate growth. Likewise, the introduction of plasmids containing distinct ori sequences into Escherichia coli also resulted in growth inhibition at elevated temperatures and could be correlated with the plasmid levels within the cells. These results suggest that these plasmids in bacteria render the cells to be more susceptible to heat stress conditions.
Sato
T
T
Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York, Buffalo 14214, USA.
Kuramitsu
H
H
D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*
D003470:Culture Media