Conjugation Systems of IncT Plasmids

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Abstract
Summary: Four IncT plasmids were compared for various chatacters, in particular pilus synthesis and function at different temperatures. The prototype Rtsl differed in some respects from the others (R402, R394, pIN25). At 37 °C, the supposedly temperature-sensitive conjugation systems of the plasmids could still function efficiently on a surface, but not in a liquid. Long conjugative pili were synthesized at 30 °C, but only short ones (approx. 200 nm) were produced at 37 °C. The long pili converted two surface-obligatory conjugation systems to surface + liquid ones at 30 °C.