Identification of site-specific recombination genes int and xis of the Rhizobium temperate phage 16-3.
Phage 16-3 is a temperate phage of Rhizobium meliloti 41 which integrates its genome with high efficiency into the host chromosome by site-specific recombination through DNA sequences of attB and attP. Here we report the identification of two phage-encoded genes required for recombinations at these sites: int (phage integration) and xis (prophage excision). We concluded that Int protein of phage 16-3 belongs to the integrase family of tyrosine recombinases. Despite similarities to the cognate systems of the lambdoid phages, the 16-3 int xis att system is not active in Escherichia coli, probably due to requirements for host factors that differ in Rhizobium meliloti and E. coli. The application of the 16-3 site-specific recombination system in biotechnology is discussed.
Semsey
S
S
Institute for Molecular Genetics, Agricultural Biotechnology Center, Gödöllo, H-2100 Hungary.
Papp
I
I
Buzas
Z
Z
Patthy
A
A
Orosz
L
L
Papp
P P
PP
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics*; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D016962:Sinorhizobium meliloti / Q000821:virology*; D014764:Viral Proteins
D014764:Viral Proteins; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases; D019426:Integrases; C063911:excisionase; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific