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Properties of plasmids constructed by the in vitro insertion of DNA fromRhizobium leguminosarum orProteus mirabilis into RP4

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Summary

Plasmids have been constructed by insertion of DNA fromRhizobium leguminosarum orProteus mirabilis into RP4 (an R factor of group P). Such recombinant plasmids retain the wide host range of the parental plasmid, being as efficiently transmissible as the unmodified RP4 and are stably maintained in rapidly growing cultures.

The recombinant plasmids, even though each contained a DNA sequence absolutely identical with that of the host strain, are no more efficient at mobilizing the transfer of chromosomal genetic information from that host strain than was unmodified RP4. We therefore conclude that an unknown factor must be essential in the process of chromosome mobilization and rate limiting for that process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, W12 OHS, London, England

    A. E. Jacob & R. W. Hedges

  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Republic of South Africa

    Janet M. Cresswell & J. N. Coetzee

  3. John Innes Institute, Colney Lane, NR4 7UH, Norwich, England

    J. E. Beringer

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  1. A. E. Jacob
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  2. Janet M. Cresswell
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  3. R. W. Hedges
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  4. J. N. Coetzee
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  5. J. E. Beringer
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Communicated by B.A. Bridges

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Jacob, A.E., Cresswell, J.M., Hedges, R.W. et al. Properties of plasmids constructed by the in vitro insertion of DNA fromRhizobium leguminosarum orProteus mirabilis into RP4. Molec. Gen. Genet. 147, 315–323 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00582883

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