title: A DNA polymerase V homologue encoded by TOL plasmid pWW0 confers evolutionary fitness on Pseudomonas putida under conditions of environmental stress.
abstract: Plasmids in conjunction with other mobile elements such as transposons are major players in the genetic adaptation of bacteria in response to changes in environment. Here we show that a large catabolic TOL plasmid, pWW0, from Pseudomonas putida carries genes (rulAB genes) encoding an error-prone DNA polymerase Pol V homologue which increase the survival of bacteria under conditions of accumulation of DNA damage. A study of population dynamics in stationary phase revealed that the presence of pWW0-derived rulAB genes in the bacterial genome allows the expression of a strong growth advantage in stationary phase (GASP) phenotype of P. putida. When rulAB-carrying cells from an 8-day-old culture were mixed with Pol V-negative cells from a 1-day-old culture, cells derived from the aged culture out-competed cells from the nonaged culture and overtook the whole culture. At the same time, bacteria from an aged culture lacking the rulAB genes were only partially able to out-compete cells from a fresh overnight culture of the parental P. putida strain. Thus, in addition to conferring resistance to DNA damage, the plasmid-encoded Pol V genes significantly increase the evolutionary fitness of bacteria during prolonged nutritional starvation of a P. putida population. The results of our study indicate that RecA is involved in the control of expression of the pWW0-encoded Pol V.
authors: Department of Genetics, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Tartu University and Estonian Biocentre, 23 Riia Street, 51010 Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Mariliis
authors: M
authors: Tark
authors: Andres
authors: A
authors: Tover
authors: Kairi
authors: K
authors: Tarassova
authors: Radi
authors: R
authors: Tegova
authors: Gaily
authors: G
authors: Kivi
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Hõrak
authors: Maia
authors: M
authors: Kivisaar
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C120926:DNA polymerase V, E coli; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase