title: Bacterial conjugation: a potential tool for genomic engineering.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, C. Herrera Oria s/n, 39011 Santander, Spain. llosam@unican.es
authors.forename: Matxalen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Llosa
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de la Cruz
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial