title: Functional characterization of Tn4401, a Tn3-based transposon involved in blaKPC gene mobilization.
abstract: The carbapenemase gene bla(KPC), which is rapidly spreading worldwide, is located on a Tn3-based transposon, Tn4401. In a transposition-conjugation assay, Tn4401 was able to mobilize bla(KPC-2) gene at a frequency of 4.4 × 10(-6)/recipient cell. A 5-bp target site duplication was evidenced upon each insertion without target site specificity. This study demonstrated that Tn4401 is an active transposon capable of mobilizing bla(KPC) genes at high frequency.
authors.affiliation: Service de Bactériologie-Virologie, Hôpital de Bicêtre, 78 rue du Général Leclerc, 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre cedex, France.
authors.forename: Gaelle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cuzon
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naas
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nordmann
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D001618:beta-Lactamases; C063912:carbapenemase