Replication and Maintenance of Bacterial Plasmids

  • Christopher M. Thomas
  • Grazyna Jagura-Burdzy
  • Kalliope Kostelidou
  • Peter Thorsted
  • Malgorzata Zatyka
Conference paper
Part of the NATO ASI Series book series (volume 103)

Abstract

By definition, plasmids are non-essential extrachromosomal elements. However, most bacteria carry at least one plasmid which can vary from a few kb to hundreds of kb and the plasmid component of the DNA in a bacterial cell can be as high as 10% or more. A large proportion of naturally occurring plasmids (as opposed to ones that have been modified so that they cannot transfer) can transfer by one means or other — conjugative transfer, transduction or even transformation. Since a plasmid does not need to recombine with endogenous DNA to become established in a new strain it allows the genes carried on the plasmid to be accessible to many strains and species where the plasmid can replicate. hi addition, if conjugative plasmids become integrated into the bacterial chromosome they can promote the exchange of chromosomal DNA. They thus facilitate sex between bacteria which results in the recombination of bacterial genes. In this way the plasmid component of the genre provides a resource of biodiversity on which bacterial communities can draw under conditions of selective pressure. Those individuals who possess the best combinations of chromosomal and plasmid-encoded genes for a specific physical or nutritional niche will dominate but other genes can persist as minor components within the community or in adjacent communities.

Keywords

Replication Origin Plasmid Copy Number Plasmid Replication Rolling Circle Replication IncP Plasmid 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1998

Authors and Affiliations

  • Christopher M. Thomas
    • 1
  • Grazyna Jagura-Burdzy
    • 1
    • 2
  • Kalliope Kostelidou
    • 1
  • Peter Thorsted
    • 1
  • Malgorzata Zatyka
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.School of Biological SciencesThe University of BirminghamBirminghamUK
  2. 2.Department of Microbial Physiology, Institute of Biochemistry and BiophysicsPolish Academy of SciencesWarsawPoland

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