Molecular characterization of the minimal replicon and the unidirectional theta replication of pSCM201 in extremely halophilic archaea.

ABSTRACT: A 3,463-bp plasmid, pSCM201, was isolated from a halophilic archaeon, Haloarcula sp. strain AS7094. The minimal replicon that is essential and sufficient for autonomous replication and stable maintenance in Haloarcula hispanica was determined by deletion analysis of the plasmid. This minimal replicon ( approximately 1.8 kb) consisted of only two functionally related segments: (i) a putative origin (ori201) containing an AT-rich region and sets of repeats and (ii) an adjacent gene encoding a putative replication initiation protein (Rep201). Electron microscopic observation and Southern blotting analysis demonstrated that pSCM201 replicates via a theta mechanism. Precise mapping of the putative origin suggested that the replication initiated from a fixed site close to the AT-rich region and

SUBMITTER: Sun C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1698213 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature