Construction in vitro of "phage-plasmid" chimerae: a new tool to analyse the mechanism of plasmid maintenance

Mol Gen Genet. 1979 Jan 16;169(1):113-6. doi: 10.1007/BF00267552.

Abstract

In this paper, we report the construction in vitro of chimerae between lambdoid replacement vectors (Murray et al., 1977) and the miniF Apr plasmid: pSC138 (Timmis et al., 1975). lambdaF recombinants were shown to be chimerae between the lambda and the F replicons. By genetical tests, we have demonstrated that both lambda and F replication mechanisms are functional: the lambdaF recombinant behaves as a non defective plaque forming phage on lambda sensitive bacteria and establishes itself as a stable plasmid on recA F- homoimmune bacteria. In the extra-chromosomal state, the lambdaF recombinant apparently retains the controlled autonomous replication and the FI incompatibility characteristics of the F plasmid. The potential experimental uses of these phages are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Coliphages / genetics*
  • DNA Replication
  • DNA, Recombinant*
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • F Factor*
  • Plasmids
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • DNA, Recombinant
  • DNA, Viral