Summary
The chromosome mobilization is the ability of F+ donors to introduce part of the chromosome besides F-plasmids into the recipient cells during conjugation. We studied the genetic determination of this phenomenon. Most efficient almost like true Hfr's are F+-cells of the genotype recBC - sbcB - belonging to the RecF-recombination type. Their ability to chromosome mobilization is 50 fold higher comparing with wild type F+ (of the RecBC-recombination type). This property is fully dependent on the recF gene but does not depend on recL. The donors recBC -F+ but without the mutation sbcB - act in mobilization about 4 times weaker than wild type. Hence we see two main levels of mobilization, quantitatively very different: a recF-dependent and recBC-dependent. Both reveal an absolute requirment of the product of recA gene.
The efficiency of mobilization of different markers along the chromosome was studied and mapped. The maps were identical, in spite of great difference in absolute frequencies for the RecF- and Rec BC-pathways. They are not at all random. The sites of mobilization are coinsident with the points of interaction of the F-factor leading to stable Hfr's. Therefore it is suggested that these sites of predominant mobilization are IS-sequences and that during chromosome mobilization single-strand integration of the F-factor via a semichiasmus is effected. It gives a pulse to initiate DNA transfer into the recipient but is unstable and transient and does not yield true Hfr's.
The suppression of the Dnats phenotype in F+ cells due to the integration of an F-plasmid into the chromosome (integrative suppression) is increased manyfold on the RecF-pathway of recombination. Probably it is a manifestation of mentioned hot spots of recombination.
The regions fre described earlier (Bresler et al., 1978) and confirmed in this paper are regarded as substrates of some recF-dependent endonuclease of recombination. Probably they coinside with clusters of IS-sequences.
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Bresler, S.E., Krivonogov, S.V. & Lanzov, V.A. Genetic determination of the donor properties in Escherichia coli K-12. Molec. Gen. Genet. 177, 177–184 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267268
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267268