Bacterial conjugation: a potential tool for genomic engineering.
Bacterial conjugation is a mechanism for horizontal DNA transfer with potential for universal DNA delivery. The conjugal machinery can be separated into three functional modules: the relaxosome, the coupling protein, and a type IV protein secretion system. Module interchangeability among different conjugative systems opens up the possibility of "a la carte" engineering of DNA delivery into virtually any cell type.
Llosa
Matxalen
M
Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, C. Herrera Oria s/n, 39011 Santander, Spain. llosam@unican.es
de la Cruz
Fernando
F
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial