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The Conjugative Transposons of Gram-Positive Bacteria

  • Chapter
Bacterial Conjugation

Abstract

Conjugative transposons are characterized by their ability to move from one bacterial cell to another by a process requiring cell-to-cell contact. Evidence for such elements became apparent about 13 years ago from studies of Enterococcus (formerly Streptococcus) faecalis strain DS16, a clinical isolate obtained in 1975 from St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan (38, 39). DS16 was of interest at that time because of its multiple antibiotic resistance and hemolytic properties. It was found to harbor a hemolysin/bacteriocin plasmid, pAD1, and a resistance plasmid, pAD2 (26, 112). pAD1 was conjugative and conferred a mating response to a peptide sex pheromone secreted by potential recipient (pAD1-free) cells, whereas pAD2 conferred resistance to erythromycin, streptomycin, and kanamycin and was nonconjugative. The erythromycin resistance determinant (erm) of pAD2 was associated with a transposon designated Tn917 (111). Derivatives of DS16 cured of both pAD1 and pAD2 maintained a resistance to tetracycline (Tc), indicating that a Tc-resistance determinant (tet) was located on the bacterial chromosome. A series of filter membrane mating experiments designed to examine transfer of the various resistance determinants of DS16 showed that tet could be mobilized at frequencies of 10−5 per donor (38). The majority of transconjugants (about 90%) harbored pAD1 and had tet on the chromosome. Among most of the remaining transconjugants, tet was linked with pAD1, and this correlated with insertion of a 16-kb segment of DNA. A surprising result arose when certain “control” experiments were performed using a plasmid-free (cured) derivative of DS16 as a donor. As reported by Franke and Clewell (38), tet was able to transfer from such strains at a frequency of about 10−8 per donor, and transconjugants could pass on the trait in subsequent matings. Intercellular transfer was DNase resistant and was not affected by the presence of a Rec−allele in either the donor or the recipient. In addition, donor filtrates did not transfer tet to recipients, nor did donor cells exposed to chloroform prior to mating. Because cell contact appeared necessary, the term “conjugative transposon,” was adopted, and the element was designated Tn916. Additional studies showing interspecies transfer added strong support that the transposon encoded its own fertility functions.

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  1. Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, School of Dentistry and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-0402, USA

    Don B. Clewell

  2. Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, School of Dentistry, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-0402, USA

    Susan E. Flannagan

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  1. Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, School of Dentistry and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Michigan, 48109-0402, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    Don B. Clewell

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Clewell, D.B., Flannagan, S.E. (1993). The Conjugative Transposons of Gram-Positive Bacteria. In: Clewell, D.B. (eds) Bacterial Conjugation. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9357-4_15

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