Conjugative DNA transfer in Streptomyces by TraB: is one protein enough?
Antibiotic-producing soil bacteria of the genus Streptomyces form a huge natural reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes for the dissemination within the soil community. Streptomyces plasmids encode a unique conjugative DNA transfer system clearly distinguished from classical conjugation involving a single-stranded DNA molecule and a type IV protein secretion system. Only a single plasmid-encoded protein, TraB, is sufficient to translocate a double-stranded DNA molecule into the recipient in Streptomyces matings. TraB is a hexameric pore-forming ATPase that resembles the chromosome segregator protein FtsK and translocates DNA by recognizing specific 8-bp repeats present in the plasmid clt locus. Mobilization of chromosomal genes does not require integration of the plasmid, because TraB also recognizes clt-like sequences distributed all over the chromosome.
Mikrobiologie/Biotechnologie, Interfakultäres Institut für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsmedizin Tübingen IMIT, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Lina
L
Thoma
Günther
G
Muth
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D010957:Plasmids; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000235:genetics*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C082576:traB protein, Bacteria