Recombination between a resident plasmid and the chromosome following irradiation of the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans

Gene. 1997 Mar 18;187(2):225-9. doi: 10.1016/s0378-1119(96)00755-x.

Abstract

Interplasmidic and intrachromosomal recombination in Deinococcus radiodurans has been studied recently and has been found to occur at high frequency following exposure to ionizing radiation. In the current work, we document plasmid-chromosome recombination following exposure of D. radiodurans to 1.75 Mrad (17.5 kGy) 60Co, when the plasmid is present in the cell at the time of irradiation. Recombination is assayed using both physical and allelic polymorphisms of homologous genes in the plasmid and chromosome. Recombination was found to be largely, but not entirely, recA-dependent. Crossovers occur frequently, and a significant fraction of these are non-reciprocal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins*
  • Chromosomes, Bacterial*
  • Cobalt
  • Crossing Over, Genetic
  • Gamma Rays
  • Membrane Transport Proteins*
  • Micrococcus / genetics*
  • Micrococcus / radiation effects
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Plasmids*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Radiation Tolerance
  • Rec A Recombinases / genetics
  • Recombination, Genetic*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Tet(S) protein, Listeria monocytogenes
  • tetracycline resistance-encoding transposon repressor protein
  • Cobalt
  • Rec A Recombinases