Abstract
CONJUGATIVE plasmids of bacteria are extrachromosomal genetic elements able to bring about DNA transfer by conjugation. The best-studied system is that of F-like plasmids in Escherichia coli, where at least 12 genes are involved1. Expression of the transfer system in this case is subject to negative control2,3. We report here that the newly discovered conjugative activity of Ti plasmids is inducible by specific amino acid derivatives that are also the substrates for plasmid-coded catabolic enzymes. This finding further extends the analogy between the regulation of the lactose operon and of transfer functions.
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PETIT, A., TEMPE, J., KERR, A. et al. Substrate induction of conjugative activity of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmids. Nature 271, 570–572 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271570a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/271570a0
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