Open AccessGenesis of a complex transposon encoding the OXA-1 (type II) beta-lactamase gene
Author(s) -
Michiyasu Tanaka,
Kyoko Matsushita,
Tomoko Yamamoto
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.28.2.227
Subject(s) - transposable element , plasmid , genetics , gene , transposition (logic) , biology , amp resistance , sleeping beauty transposon system , transposase , mutant , linguistics , philosophy
Plasmid R753-1-encoded resistance to ampicillin (by production of OXA-1 [type II] beta-lactamase), streptomycin, and sulfonamide was analyzed functionally and physically. The OXA-1 beta-lactamase gene on R753-1 could not transpose, whereas on some plasmids this gene was capable of transposition as part of transposon Tn2603. By using the nontransposable gene on R753-1 with Tn21 on a separate plasmid, we observed the genesis of a complex transposon with a structure similar to that of Tn2603. This finding confirms our previous hypothesis that Tn2603 has evolved directly from Tn21 through acquisition of the OXA-1 beta-lactamase gene by substitution of DNA segments. Furthermore, the mechanism of mobilization of pACYC184 derivatives by RecA-dependent homologous recombination was demonstrated.