Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mechanism of Replication and Copy Number Control of Plasmids in Gram-Positive Bacteria

  • Chapter
Genetic Engineering

Part of the book series: Genetic Engineering ((GEPM,volume 18))

Abstract

Ever since plasmids were first discovered, they have served as important model systems for the study of various biological processes, including DNA replication, gene expression, recombination and gene transfer. Most of the earlier intensive studies carried out with plasmids of Gram-negative bacteria, such as ColEl, R6K, RK2 and plasmids of the incFII family, revealed that they replicated by either a unidirectional or bidirectional theta-type mechanism. These studies also provided the first evidence of an antisense mechanism for the regulation of DNA replication in the case of the ColEl plasmid (1). Similarly, initiator-dependent “handcuffing” was shown to be responsible for the regulation of replication of R6K, RK2 and PI plasmids (2–4). Studies with E. coli plasmids also identified directly repeated sequences (iterons) as elements critical in the initiation and regulation of DNA replication (5–8). In recent years, significant progress has also been made in our understanding of the biology of plasmids in Gram-positive bacteria. These studies have revealed some similarities as well as significant differences in the mechanism of replication and copy number control of these plasmids as compared from those of the Gram-negative organisms. In this review, the replication and copy number control of plasmids in Gram-positive bacteria is discussed with emphasis on the molecular aspects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Tomizawa, J.-I. and Som, T. (1984) Cell 38, 871–878.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Abeles, A.L. and Austin, S.J. (1991) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 9011–9015.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kittell, B.L. and Helinski, D.R. (1991) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 1389–1393.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. McEachern, M.J., Bott, M.A., Tooker, P.A. and Helinski, D.R. (1989) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 7942–7946.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Abeles, A.L., Snyder, K.M. and Chattoraj, D.K. (1984) J. Mol. Biol. 173, 307–324.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Filutowicz, M., Dellis, S., Levchenko, I., Urh, M., Wu, F. and York, D. (1994) Progress in Nucl. Acid Res. and Mol. Biol. 46, 239–272.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Lin, L.-S. and Meyer, R.J. (1986) Plasmid 15, 35–47.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Murotsu, T., Tsutsui, H. and Matsubara, K. (1984) Mol. Gen. Genet. 196, 373–378.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. del Solar, G.H., Moscoso, M. and Espinosa, M. (1993) Mol. Microbiol. 8, 789–796.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gruss, A. and Ehrlich, S.D. (1989) Microbiol. Rev. 53, 231–241.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Novick, R.P. (1989) Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 43, 537–565.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Yang, X. and McFadden, B.A. (1993) J. Bacteriol. 175, 3981–3991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Seery, L.T., Nolan, N.C., Sharp, P.M. and Devine, K.M. (1993) Plasmid 30, 185–196.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. King, K.W. and Dybvig, K. (1992) Plasmid 28, 86–91.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. MacDougall, J., Margarita, D. and Girons, LS. (1992) J. Bacteriol. 174, 2724–2728.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Koepsel, R.R., Murray, R.W., Rosenblum, W.D. and Khan, S.A. (1985) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 6845–6849.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Baas, P.D. and Jansz, H.S. (1988) Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 136, 31–70.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Sims, J., Koths, S. and Dressler, D. (1979) Quant. Biol. 43, 349–365.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Khan, S.A. and Novick, R.P. (1983) Plasmid 10, 251–259.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Projan, S.J. and Novick, R. (1988) Plasmid 19, 203–221.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. McDowell, D.G. and Mann, N.H. (1991) Plasmid 25, 113–120.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Aoki, T., Noguchi, N., Sasatsu, M. and Kono, M. (1987) Gene 51, 107–110.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Vujcic, M. and Topisirovic, L. (1993) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59, 274–280.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Xu, F., Pearce, L.E. and Yu, P.-L. (1991) Mol. Gen. Genet. 227, 33–39.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. De Vos, W.M. (1987) FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 46, 281–295.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Leenhouts, K.J., Tolner, B., Bron, S., Kok, J., Venema, G. and Seegers, J.F.M.L. (1991) Plasmid 26, 55–66.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Perkins, J. and Youngman, P. (1983) J. Bacterid. 155, 607–615.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Devine, K., Hogan, S., Higgins, D. and McConnell, D. (1989) J. Bacteriol. 171, 1166–1172.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. De Rossi, E., Milano, A., Brigdi, P., Bini, F. and Riccardi, G. (1992) J. Bacteriol. 174, 638–642.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Bernhard, K., Schrempft, H. and Goebel, W. (1978) J. Bacteriol. 133, 897–903.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Darabi, A., Forough, R., Bhardwaj, G., Watabe, M., Goodarazi, G., Gross, S.S. and Watabe, K. (1989) Plasmid 22, 281–286.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Skaugen, M. (1989) Plasmid 22, 175–179.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Brehm, J.K., Pennock A., Bullman, H.M.S., Young, M., Oultram, J.D. and Minton, N.P. (1992) Plasmid 28, 1–13.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Murai, M., Miyashita, H., Araki, H., Seki, T. and Oshima, Y. (1987) Mol. Gen. Genet. 210, 92–100.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Kendall, K.J. and Cohen, S. (1988) J. Bacteriol. 170, 4634–4651.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Josson, K., Soetaert, P., Michiels, F., Jóos, H. and Mahillon, J. (1990) J. Bacteriol. 172, 3089–3099.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Bouia, A., Bringel, F., Frey, L., Kammerer, B., Belarbi, A., Guyonvarch, A. and Hubert, J.-C. (1989) Plasmid 22, 185–192.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Muller, R.E., Ano, T., Imanaka, T. and Aiba, S. (1986) Mol. Gen. Genet. 202, 169–171.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Shishido, K., Noguchi, N., Kim, C. and Ando, T. (1983) Plasmid 10, 224–234.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Bron, S., Bosma, P., Van Belkum, M. and Luxen, E. (1987) Plasmid 18, 8–15.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Hoshino, T., Ikeda, T., Furukawa, K. and Tomizuka, N. (1985) Can. J. Microbiol. 31, 614–619.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. McKenzie, T., Hoshino, T., Tanaka, T. and Sueoka, N. (1986) Plasmid 15, 93–103.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Hara, T., Nagatomo, S., Ogata, S. and Ueda, S. (1991) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57, 1838–1841.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. LeBlanc, D.J., Lee, L.N. and Jaibet, A.-A. (1992) Plasmid 28, 130–145.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Grinius, L., Dreguniene, G., Goldberg, E.B., Liao, C.-H. and Projan, S.J. (1992) Plasmid 27, 119–129.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Pouwels, P.H., Luijk, N.V., Leer, R.J. and Posno, M. (1994) Mol. Gen. Genet. 242, 614–622.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Khan, S.A. and Novick, R.P. (1982) J. Bacteriol. 149, 642–649.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Projan, S.J., Monod, M., Narayanan, C.S. and Dubnau, D. (1987) J. Bacteriol. 169, 5131–5139.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Madsen, S.M., Andrup, L. and Boe, L. (1993) Plasmid 30, 119–130.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Thomas, C.D., Balson, D.F. and Shaw, W.V. (1988) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 16, 758–759.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Thomas, C.D., Balson, D.F. and Shaw, W.V. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 5519–5530.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Koepsel, R.R., Murray, R.W. and Khan, S.A. (1986) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 5484–5488.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Gros, M.F., te Riele, H. and Ehrlich, S.D. (1987) EMBO J. 6, 3863–3869.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Murray, R.W., Koepsel, R.R. and Khan, S.A. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 1051–1057.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Rasooly, A. and Novick, R.P. (1993) Science 262, 1048–1050.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Koepsel, R.R., Murray, R.W., Rosenblum, W.D. and Khan, S.A. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 8571–8577.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Gennaro, M.L., Iordanescu, S., Novick, R.P., Murray, R.W., Steck, T.R. and Khan, S.A. (1989) J. Mol. Biol. 205, 355–362.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Zock, J.M., Birch, P. and Khan, S.A. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 3484–3488.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Koepsel, R.R. and Khan, S.A. (1986) Science 233, 1316–1318.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Noirot, P., Bargonetti, J. and Novick, R.P. (1990) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 8560–8564.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Moscoso, M., del Solar, G. and Espinosa, M. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 3772–3779.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Khan, S.A., Murray, R.W. and Koepsel, R.R. (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 951, 375–381.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. te Riele, H., Michel, B. and Ehrlich, S.D. (1986) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 2541–2545.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Iordanescu, S. and Projan, S.J. (1988) J. Bacteriol. 170, 3427–3434.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Janniere, L., Gruss, A. and Ehrlich, S.D. (1993) in Bacillus subtilis and Other Gram-Positive Bacteria: Biochemistry, Physiology, and Molecular Genetics (Sonenshein, A.L., Hoch, J.A. and Losick, R., eds.) pp. 625–644, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Muller, A.K., Rojo, F. and Alonso, J.C. (1995) Nucl. Acids Res. 23, 1894–1900.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Koepsel, R.R. and Khan, S.A. (1987) Nucl. Acids Res. 15, 4085–4097.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Ilyina, T.V. and Koonin, E.V. (1992) Nucl. Acids Res. 20, 3279–3285.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Iordanescu, S. (1989) Mol. Gen. Genet. 217, 481–487.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Khan, S.A., Koepsel, R.R., Murray, R.W. and Zock, J.M. (1990) in Molecular Biology of Staphylococci (Novick, R., ed.) pp. 197–210, VCH Publishers, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Dempsey, L.A., Birch, P. and Khan, S.A. (1992) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 3083–3087.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Dempsey, L.A., Birch, P. and Khan, S.A. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 24538–24543.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Noirot-Gros, M.F., Bidenko, V. and Ehrlich, S.D. (1994) EMBO J. 13, 4412–4420.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Birch, P. and Khan, S.A. (1992) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 290–294.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Boe, L., Gros, M.-F., te Riele, H., Ehrlich, S.D. and Gruss, A. (1989) J. Bacteriol. 171, 3366–3372.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Dempsey, L.A., Zhao, A.C. and Khan, S.A. (1995) Mol. Microbiol. 15, 679–687.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Seegers, J.F.M.L., Zhao, A.C., Khan, S.A., Venema, G. and Bron, S. Mol. Gen. Genet, (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  78. Kramer, M.G., del Solar, G. and Espinosa, M. (1995) Microbiology 141, 655–662.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Gennaro, M.L. and Novick, R.P. (1988) J. Bacteriol. 170, 5709–5717.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Bidnenko, V.E., Gruss, A. and Ehrlich, S.D. (1993) J. Bacteriol. 175, 5611–5616.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Clewell, D.B., Yagi, Y., Dunny, G.M. and Schultz, S.K. (1974) J. Bacteriol. 117, 283–289.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Clewell, D.B. and Franke, A.E. (1974) J. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 5, 534–537.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Malke, H., Jacob, H.E. and Storl, K. (1976) Mol. Gen Gen. 144, 333, 338.

    Google Scholar 

  84. Horaud, T., Le Bouguenec, C. and Pepper, K. (1985) J. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 16, 111–135.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Bourgueleret, L., Bieth, G. and Horodniceanu, T. (1981) J. Bacteriol. 145, 1102–1105.

    Google Scholar 

  86. Brantl, S. and Behnke, D. (1992) Mol. Microbiol. 6, 3501–3510.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Bruand, C., Ehrlich, S.D. and Janniere, L. (1991) EMBO J. 8, 2171–2177.

    Google Scholar 

  88. Bruand, C., Ehrlich, S.D. and Janniere, L. (1991) EMBO J. 8, 2171–2177.

    Google Scholar 

  89. Le Chatelier, E., Ehrlich, S.D. and Janniere, L. (1993) Plasmid 29, 50–56.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  90. Kaul, S., Mohanty, B.K., Sahoo, T., Patel, I., Khan, S.A. and Bastía, D. (1994) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 11143–11147.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Brantl, S., Behnke, D. and Alonso, J.C. (1990) Nucl. Acids Res. 18, 4783–4790.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  92. Chang, P.-C. and Cohen, S.N. (1994) Science 265, 952–954.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  93. Iordanescu, S. (1993) Mol. Gen. Genet. 241, 185–192.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  94. Diaz, A., Lacks, S.A. and Lopez, P. (1994) Mol. Microbiol. 14, 773–783.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  95. Alonso, J.C., Stiege, C.A., Tailor, R.H. and Viret, J.-F. (1988) Mol. Gen. Genet. 214, 482–489.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  96. Huberman, J.A. (1995) Cell 82, 535–542.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  97. Ceglowski, P., Lurz, R. and Alonso, J.C. (1993) FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 109, 145–150.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  98. Novick, R.P., Iordanescu, S., Projan, S.J., Kornblum, J. and Edelman, I. (1989) Cell 59, 395–404.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  99. Brantl, S., Birch-Hirschfeld, E. and Behnke, D. (1993) J. Bacteriol. 175, 4052–4061.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  100. Iordanescu, S. (1995) Mol. Microbiol. 16, 477–484.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  101. Brantl, S. (1994) Mol. Microbiol. 14, 473–483.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  102. Le Chatelier, E., Ehrlich, S.D. and Janniere, L. (1994) Mol. Microbiol. 14, 463–471.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  103. del Solar, G. and Espinosa, M. (1992) Mol. Microbiol. 6, 83–94.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  104. Alonso, J.C. and Tailor, R.H. (1987) Mol. Gen. Genet. 210, 476–484.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  105. Maciag, I.E., Viret, J.-F. and Alonso, J.C. (1988) Mol. Gen. Genet. 212, 232–240.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Saleem A. Khan

Authors
  1. Saleem A. Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA

    Jane K. Setlow

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Khan, S.A. (1996). Mechanism of Replication and Copy Number Control of Plasmids in Gram-Positive Bacteria. In: Setlow, J.K. (eds) Genetic Engineering. Genetic Engineering, vol 18. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1766-9_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1766-9_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1768-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1766-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation