Skip to main content
Log in

The nature of the transfer inhibitor of several F-like plasmids

  • Published:
Molecular and General Genetics MGG Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A model is proposed for the nature of the transfer inhibitor of F-like plasmids, and is shown to be applicable to six of these. In this model, the transfer inhibitor has two components. One, the product of a gene called fin (previously fi or i) is relatively non-specific. The other, called a P product, can be recognised by its slow synthesis or action in a newly-infected cell, and is relatively specific. An approximate location for traP, the cistron coding for the P product of Flac, has been found.

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

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achtman, M., Willetts, N. S., Clark, A. J.: Beginning a genetic analysis of conjugational transfer determined by the F factor in Escherichia coli by isolation and characterisation of transfer deficient mutants. J. Bact. 106, 529–538 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Achtman, M., Willetts, N. S., Clark, A. J.: A conjugational complementation analysis of transfer-deficient mutants of Flac in E. coli. J. Bact. 110, 831–842 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Demerec, M., Adelberg, E. A., Clark, A. J., Hartman, P. E.: A proposal for a uniform nomenclature in bacterial genetics. Genetics 54, 61–76 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennison, S.: Naturally occurring R factor, derepressed for pilus synthesis, belonging to the same compatibility group as the sex factor F of Escherichia coli K12. J. Bact. 109, 416–422 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Egawa, R., Hirota, Y.: Inhibition of fertility by multiple drug-resistance factor in E. coli K12. Jap. J. Genet. 37, 66–69 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Finnegan, D. J., Willetts, N. S.: Two classes of Flac mutants insensitive to transfer inhibition by an F-like R factor. Molec. gen. Genet. 111, 256–264 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredericq, P.: The recombination of colicinogenic factors with other episomes and plasmids. Ciba Found. Symp. on Bacterial Episomes and Plasmids. pp. 163–174 (1969).

  • Frydman, A., Meynell, E.: Interaction between de-repressed F-like R factors and wild type colicin B factors: superinfection immunity and repressor susceptibility. Genet. Res. 14, 315–332 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Grindley, N. D. F., Anderson, E. S., Smith, H. R., Grindley, J. N.: The effects of S. typhimurium on derepressed mutants of F-like factors. Genet. Res. 17, 89–93 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ippen, K., Achtman, M., Willetts, N. S.: A deletion map of the E. coli K 12 sex factor F: the order of eleven transfer cistrons. J. Bact. 110, 857–863 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, P. L., Helinski, D. R.: Relationship between colicinogenic factors E1 and V and an F factor in E. coli. J. Bact. 88, 1573–1579 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawn, A. M., Meynell, E.: Serotypes of sex pili. J. Hyg. (Caub.) 68, 683–694 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawn, A. M., Meynell, G. G., Meynell, E., Datta, N.: Sex pili and the classification of sex factors in the Enterobacteriaceae. Nature (Lond.) 216, 343–346 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • MacFarren, A. C., Clowes, R. C.: A comparative study of two F-like colicin factors, ColV2 and ColV3, in Escherichia coli K 12. J. Bact. 94, 365–377 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Meynell, E., Cooke, M.: Repressor-minus and operator constitutive de-repressed mutants of F-like R factors: their effect on chromosomal transfer by HfrC. Genet. Res. 14, 309–313 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Meynell, E., Datta, N.: Functional homology of the sex factor and resistance transfer factors. Nature (Lond.) 207, 884–885 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Meynell, E., Datta, N.: Mutant drug resistance factors of high transmissibility. Nature (Lond.) 214, 885–887 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Meynell, E., Meynell, G. G., Datta, N.: Phylogenetic relationships of drug resistance factors and other transmissible bacterial plasmids. Bact. Rev. 32, 55–83 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Negrotti, T., Nagel de Zwaig, R.: Interactions between colicinogenic factor B and F type factors: isolation of a mutant Flac factor insensitive to the effect of colicinogenic factor B. Genetics 70, 205–213 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Puig, J., Nagel de Zwaig, R.: Étude génétique d'un facteur colicinogène B et son influence sur la fertilité des croisements chez Escherichia coli K 12. Ann. Inst. Pasteur 107 (No 5 suppl.), 115–131 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Silver, R. P., Cohen, S. N.: Nonchromosomal antibiotic resistance in bacteria. V. Isolation and characterisation of R factor mutants exhibiting temperature-sensitive repression of fertility. J. Bact. 110, 1082–1088 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe, T., Fukasawa, T.: Episome-mediated transfer of drug resistance in Enterobacteriaceae. IV. Interactions between resistance transfer factor and F factor in Escherichia coli K 12. J. Bact. 83, 727–735 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe, T., Nishida, H., Ogata, C., Arai, T., Sato, S.: Episome-mediated transfer of drug resistance in Enterobacteriaceae. VII. Two types of naturally occurring R factors. J. Bact. 88, 716–726 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Willetts, N. S.: Plasmid-specificity of two proteins required for conjugation in E. coli K 12. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 230, 183–185 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Willetts, N. S., Achtman, M.: A genetic analysis of transfer by the E. coli sex factor F, using P1 transductional complementation. J. Bact. 110, 843–851 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by R. Devoret

Supported by a George Murray Fellowship from the University of Adelaide, Australia. Present address: Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Finnegan, D., Willetts, N. The nature of the transfer inhibitor of several F-like plasmids. Molec. Gen. Genet. 119, 57–66 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270444

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270444

Keywords

Navigation