Release of extracellular transformable plasmid DNA from Escherichia coli cocultivated with algae.
We studied the effects of cocultivation with either Euglena gracilis (Euglenophyta), Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanophyta), Chlamydomonas neglecta (Chlorophyta), or Carteria inversa (Chlorophyta) on the production of extracellular plasmid DNA by Escherichia coli LE392(pKZ105). Dot blot hybridization analysis showed a significant release of plasmid DNA by cocultivation with all the algae tested. Further analysis by electrotransformation confirmed the release of transformable plasmid DNA by cocultivation with either E. gracilis, M. aeruginosa, or C. inversa. These results suggest algal involvement in bacterial horizontal gene transfer by stimulating the release of transformable DNA into aquatic environments.
Matsui
Kazuaki
K
Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Otsu 520-2113, Japan. k-matsui@ecology.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Ishii
Nobuyoshi
N
Kawabata
Zen'ichiro
Z
D000818:Animals; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000254:growth & development; D003470:Culture Media; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D005055:Euglena / Q000254:growth & development; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000254:growth & development*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial