Tn7 transposes proximal to DNA double-strand breaks and into regions where chromosomal DNA replication terminates.
We report that the bacterial transposon Tn7 can preferentially transpose into regions where chromosomal DNA replication terminates. DNA double-strand breaks are associated with the termination of chromosomal replication; therefore, we directly tested the effect of DNA breaks on Tn7 transposition. When DNA double-strand breaks are induced at specific sites in the chromosome, Tn7 transposition is stimulated and insertions are directed proximal to the induced break. The targeting preference for the terminus of replication and DNA double-strand breaks is dependent on the Tn7-encoded protein TnsE. The results presented in this study could also explain the previous observation that Tn7 is attracted to events associated with conjugal DNA replication during plasmid DNA transfer.
Peters
J E
JE
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Craig
N L
NL
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000502:physiology*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007763:Lac Operon / Q000235:genetics; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional / Q000502:physiology; D019895:Transposases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C098908:TnsA protein, E coli; C069633:TnsB protein, E coli; C074940:TnsC protein, E coli; C061910:tus protein, Bacteria; C489236:tus protein, E coli; D004247:DNA; D019895:Transposases