Pathway of plasmid transformation in Pneumococcus: open circular and linear molecules are active

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · J. Bacteriol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6390717

Saunders, C W; Guild, W R

We have extended the analysis of plasmid transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae by finding that monomeric and dimeric open circular and linear forms of pMV158 were active in transformation. Their efficiencies were at least 35-fold lower than those of the corresponding closed circular forms. The evidence came largely from analysis of S1 nuclease-digested plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid by combinations of dye-buoyancy, gel electrophoresis, and sedimentation velocity methods. As with closed circular forms, monomer open circular forms gave second-order kinetics and dimer forms gave first-order kinetics. Unique linear products of digestion by either of two restriction enzymes were inactive, but a mixture of the two digests was active, as was the mixture of linear monomer deoxyribonucleic acids produced by S1 nuclease. Absolute efficiencies of transformation were low even for closed circular donors. All of the results, including the low efficiencies, were consistent with the interpretation that plasmid replicons were assembled in the recipient cell by pairing of fragments of single strands that had entered the cell separately from duplex donors that had been cut on the cell surface.

• Research Organization: Duke Univ., Durham, NC
• DOE Contract Number: AS05-76EV03941
• OSTI ID: 6390717
• Journal Information: J. Bacteriol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Bacteriol.; (United States) Vol. 146:2; ISSN JOBAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CONFIGURATION INTERACTION
DIMERS
DNA
DNA REPLICATION
ELECTROPHORESIS
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
HYDROLASES
KINETICS
MICROORGANISMS
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
MONOMERS
NUCLEASES
NUCLEIC ACID REPLICATION
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHODIESTERASES
PLASMIDS
PNEUMOCOCCUS
REACTION KINETICS
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS