Distinct functions of the two specificity determinants in replication initiation of plasmids ColE2-P9 and ColE3-CA38.

ABSTRACT: The plasmid ColE2-P9 Rep protein specifically binds to the cognate replication origin to initiate DNA replication. The replicons of the plasmids ColE2-P9 and ColE3-CA38 are closely related, although the actions of the Rep proteins on the origins are specific to the plasmids. The previous chimera analysis identified two regions, regions A and B, in the Rep proteins and two sites, alpha and beta, in the origins as specificity determinants and showed that when each component of the region A-site alpha pair and the region B-site beta pair is derived from the same plasmid, plasmid DNA replication is efficient. It is also indicated that the replication specificity is mainly determined by region A and site alpha. By using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we demonstrated that region B and

SUBMITTER: Aoki K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1899376 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature