Open AccessA site-specific recombination function in Staphylococcus aureus plasmids
Author(s) -
Maria Laura Gennaro,
John Kornblum,
Richard P. Novick
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.169.6.2601-2610.1987
Subject(s) - plasmid , recombination , biology , site specific recombination , genetics , flp frt recombination , homology (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , t dna binary system , dna , recombinant dna , genetic recombination , gene , vector (molecular biology) , recombinase
All known small staphylococcal plasmids possess one or two recombination sites at which site-specific cointegrate formation occurs. One of these sites, RSA, is present on two small multicopy plasmids, pT181 and pE194; it consists of 24 base pairs of identity in the two plasmids, the "core," flanked by some 50 base pairs of decreasing homology. Here we show that recombination at RSA is recA independent and is mediated by a plasmid-encoded, trans-acting protein, Pre (plasmid recombination). Pre-mediated recombination is site specific in that it occurs within the core sequence of RSA in a recA1 host. Recombination also occurs between two intramolecular RSA sites. Unlike site-specific recombination systems encoded by other plasmids, Pre-RSA is not involved in plasmid maintenance.