Open AccessA Bacillus anthracis -Based In Vitro System Supports Replication of Plasmid pXO2 as Well as Rolling-Circle-Replicating Plasmids
Author(s) -
Eowyn Tinsley,
Saleem A. Khan
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
applied and environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.552
H-Index - 324
eISSN - 1070-6291
pISSN - 0099-2240
DOI - 10.1128/aem.00240-07
Subject(s) - plasmid , bacillus anthracis , rolling circle replication , biology , origin of replication , virulence , dna replication , in vitro , replication (statistics) , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , virology , bacteria
Capsule-encoding virulence plasmid pXO2 ofBacillus anthracis is predicted to replicate by a unidirectional theta-type mechanism. To gain a better understanding of the mechanism of replication of pXO2 and other plasmids inB. anthracis and related organisms, we have developed a cell-free system based onB. anthracis that can faithfully replicate plasmid DNA in vitro. The newly developed system was shown to support the in vitro replication of plasmid pT181, which replicates by the rolling-circle mechanism. We also demonstrate that this system supports the replication of plasmid pXO2 ofB. anthracis . Replication of pXO2 required directional transcription through the plasmid origin of replication, and increased transcription through the origin resulted in an increase in plasmid replication.