Deletion of the Clostridium thermocellum recA gene reveals that it is required for thermophilic plasmid replication but not plasmid integration at homologous DNA sequences.

ABSTRACT: A limitation to the engineering of cellulolytic thermophiles is the availability of functional, thermostable (≥ 60 °C) replicating plasmid vectors for rapid expression and testing of genes that provide improved or novel fuel molecule production pathways. A series of plasmid vectors for genetic manipulation of the cellulolytic thermophile Caldicellulosiruptor bescii has recently been extended to Clostridium thermocellum, another cellulolytic thermophile that very efficiently solubilizes plant biomass and produces ethanol. While the C. bescii pBAS2 replicon on these plasmids is thermostable, the use of homologous promoters, signal sequences and genes led to undesired integration into the bacterial chromosome, a result also observed with less thermostable replicating vectors. In an attempt to

SUBMITTER: Groom J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6483729 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature