The transfer region of IncI1 plasmid R64: similarities between R64 tra and legionella icm/dot genes.
The entire nucleotide sequence of the transfer region of IncI1 plasmid R64 was determined together with previously reported sequences. Twenty-two transfer genes, traE-Y and nuc, were newly identified in the present study. The protein products of 17 genes were detected by maxicell experiments or by the T7 RNA polymerase expression system. Mutagenesis experiments indicated that 16 genes were indispensable for R64 transfer both in liquid and on surfaces. In summary, the R64 transfer region located within an approximately 54 kb DNA segment was shown to encode the most complex transfer system so far studied. It contains at least 49 genes and may produce 58 different proteins as a result of shufflon DNA rearrangement and overlapping genes. Among the 49 genes, 23 tra, trb and nik genes have been shown to be indispensable for R64 conjugal transfer in liquid and on surfaces. Twelve additional pil genes are required only for liquid matings. The amino acid sequences of 10 R64 tra/trb products share similarity with those of the icm/dot products of Legionella pneumophila that are responsible for its virulence, suggesting that the R64 transfer and L. pneumophila icm/dot systems have evolved from a common ancestral genetic system.
Komano
T
T
Department of Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiohsawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan. komano-teruya@c.metro-u.ac.jp
Yoshida
T
T
Narahara
K
K
Furuya
N
N
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D007875:Legionella / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014764:Viral Proteins
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C063238:traY protein, E coli; C062210:bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases