The combination of active partitioning and toxin-antitoxin systems is most advantageous for low-copy plasmid fitness.

ABSTRACT: Extrachromosomal and mobile genetic elements, including plasmids, and accessory chromosomes, are prevalent in all life domains. Elements integrated into the host chromosome replicate and segregate via the host life cycle. In contrast, the persistence of autonomously replicating elements relies on their ability to remain within the host population. Here, we compare the evolutionary advantage of different persistence strategies found in prokaryotic plasmids. Through intracellular competitions between plasmid genotypes, we find that the combination of active partitioning during cell division with a toxin-antitoxin (TA) system for post-segregational killing increases plasmid fitness more than either strategy alone. Mathematical modeling of long-term plasmid evolution, calibrated with empirical

SUBMITTER: Effe J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12317039 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature