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In vitro characterization of the site-specific recombination system based on genus Habenivirus ϕRSM small serine integrase

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Abstract

The genus Habenivirus which includes Ralstonia virus ϕRSM encodes a site-specific integrase of a small serine recombinase belonging to the resolvase/invertase family. Here we describe the integrative/excisive recombination reactions mediated by ϕRSM integrase using in vitro assays. The products of attP/attB recombination, i.e. attL and attR, were exactly identical to those found in the prophage ϕRSM in R. solanacearum strains. The minimum size of attB required for integration was determined to be 37 bp, containing a 13 bp core and flanking sequences of 4 bp on the left and 20 bp on the right. ϕRSM integrative recombination proceeds efficiently in vitro in the absence of additional proteins or high-energy cofactors. Excision of a functional phage genome from a prophage fragment was demonstrated in vitro, demonstrating two-way activity of ϕRSM1 integrase. This is the first example of a small serine recombinase from the resolvase/invertase group that functions in integrative and excisive recombination for filamentous phages. This serine integrase could be used as a tool for several genome engineering applications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt

    Ahmed Askora

  2. Unit of Biotechnology, Division of Biological and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima, 739-8530, Japan

    Takeru Kawasaki, Makoto Fujie & Takashi Yamada

  3. Hiroshima Study Center, The Open University of Japan, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, 730-0053, Japan

    Takashi Yamada

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  1. Ahmed Askora
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  2. Takeru Kawasaki
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  3. Makoto Fujie
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  4. Takashi Yamada
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Correspondence to Ahmed Askora or Takashi Yamada.

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Askora, A., Kawasaki, T., Fujie, M. et al. In vitro characterization of the site-specific recombination system based on genus Habenivirus ϕRSM small serine integrase. Mol Genet Genomics 296, 551–559 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-021-01762-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-021-01762-5

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