A panel of Tn7-based vectors for insertion of the gfp marker gene or for delivery of cloned DNA into Gram-negative bacteria at a neutral chromosomal site

J Microbiol Methods. 2001 Jul;45(3):187-95. doi: 10.1016/s0167-7012(01)00246-9.

Abstract

The use of Tn7-based systems for site-specific insertion of DNA into the chromosome of Gram-negative bacteria has been limited due to the lack of appropriate vectors. We therefore developed a flexible panel of Tn7 delivery vectors. In one group of vectors, the miniTn7 element, which is inserted into the chromosome, contains a multiple cloning site (MCS) and the kanamycin, streptomycin or gentamicin resistance markers. Another group of vectors intended for tagging with green fluorescent protein (GFP) carries the gfpmut3* gene controlled by the modified lac promoter PA1/04/03, several transcriptional terminators, and various resistance markers. These vectors insert Tn7 into a specific, neutral intergenic region immediately downstream of the gene encoding glucosamine-6-phosphate synthetase (GlmS) in the tested fluorescent Pseudomonas strains. The gfp-tagging vector containing a gentamicin-resistance marker is useful for tagging strains carrying a Tn5 transposon. Tn5 transposons often carry kanamycin-resistance-encoding genes and are frequently used to generate bacterial mutants and to deliver reporter constructions in gene expression studies. To demonstrate the utility of a dual marker/reporter system, the Tn7-gfp marker system was combined with a Tn5-delivered luxAB reporter system in Pseudomonas fluorescens. The system allowed detection of gfp-tagged cells in the barley rhizosphere, while expression of the Tn5-tagged locus could be determined by measuring bioluminescence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromosomes, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA Transposable Elements*
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial / genetics
  • Genetic Vectors*
  • Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing) / genetics*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / genetics*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Pseudomonas fluorescens / genetics

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing)