title: The molecular biology of recombination in Mycobacteria: what do we know and how can we use it?
abstract: Recombination is a ubiquitous genetic process which results in the exchange of DNA between two substrates. Homologous recombination occurs between DNA species with identical sequence whereas illegitimate recombination can occur between DNA with very little or no homology. Site-specific recombination is often used by temperate phages to stably integrate into bacterial chromosomes. Characterisation of the mechanisms of recombination in mycobacteria has mainly focussed on RecA-dependent homologous recombination and phage-directed site-specific recombination. In contrast the high frequency of illegitimate recombination in slow-growing mycobacteria has not been explained. The role of DNA repair in dormancy and infection have not yet been fully established, but early work suggests that RecA-mediated pathways are not required for virulence. All three recombination mechanisms have been utilised in developing genetic techniques for the analysis of the biology and pathogenesis of mycobacteria. A recently developed method for studying essential genes will generate further insights into the biology of these important organisms.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease, Institute for Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, Turner Street, London, E1 2AD, UK.
authors.forename: D G Niranjala
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Muttucumaru
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parish
mesh_terms: D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000502:physiology; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D009159:Mycobacteriaceae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D005819:Genetic Markers