The plasmid system ofEscherichia colistrain UR12644: Identification and molecular characteristics of transposons involved in the generation of endogenous R-plasmids

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Two spontaneously formed R-plasmids (pFS401 and pFS402) originating from the multiple drug-resistantEscherichia colistrain UR12644 were found to carry transposable drug-resistance elements. Incompatibility between these two plasmids was used to select for transposition. An ampicillin transposon (Tn1781) residing on pFS401 and a tetracycline transposon (Tn1771) present on pFS402 were independently translocated to the endogenous RTF-plasmid pFS2. Molecular weight determinations of pFS2::Tn1781(Ap) and pFS2::Tn1771(Tc) revealed a value of 2·9 Mdal for Tn1781 and 7·1 Mdal for Tn1771. The arrangement of 3PstI and 1BamHI restriction endonuclease sites was found to be characteristic for the ampicillin transposon whereas the restriction map of Tn1771 features a nearly symmetrical location of 3EcoRI cleavage sites, two of them close to the termini and one in the middle of the transposon. A model is presented suggesting the existence of repetitive DNA-segments at these positions which represent the structural preconditions for the genetic properties of Tn1771. The role of a cryptic plasmid involved in the generation of the endogenous R-plasmids pFS401 and pFS402 is discussed.

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