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Journal of Bacteriology, October 2001, p. 5472-5481, Vol. 183, No. 19
0021-9193/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/JB.183.19.5472-5481.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Multiple Origins and Replication Proteins Influence Biological Properties of beta -Lactamase-Producing Plasmids from Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Franco Pagottodagger and Jo-Anne R. Dillon*

Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5

Received 8 January 2001/Accepted 27 June 2001

The beta -lactamase-producing Asia-type plasmid pJD4 of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a 7.4-kb, broad-host-range plasmid. It is part of a family of plasmids which are structurally related yet vary in size, found in both N. gonorrhoeae and Haemophilus ducreyi. Branch-point analysis by electron microscopy indicates that pJD4 carries three clustered but distinguishable origins of replication, which we named ori1, ori2, and ori3. Although pJD4 belongs to incompatibility (Inc) group W, it also carries a silent IncFII determinant which is expressed when ori2 and ori3 are absent. The Africa-type plasmid pJD5, a naturally occurring deletion derivative of pJD4, carries only ori1, belongs to the IncFII group, and, in contrast to pJD4, requires DNA polymerase I (Pol I) for replication. Plasmids constructed from pJD4 which lack ori1 but carry ori2 and ori3 do not require Pol I and are incompatible with IncW plasmids, suggesting that the ori2 or ori3 region contains the IncW determinant. We have cloned a replication initiation protein (RepB) that is necessary for ori2 and ori3 to function. This Rep protein is distinct from RepA, which is necessary for ori1. Thus, pJD4 is unique because it is the smallest plasmid characterized containing three origins of replication and two unique Rep proteins.


* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5. Phone: (613) 562-5459. Fax: (613) 562-5452. E-mail: jdillon{at}uottawa.ca.

dagger Present address: Microbiology Research Division, Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Banting Research Centre, PL 2204A2, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0L2.


Journal of Bacteriology, October 2001, p. 5472-5481, Vol. 183, No. 19
0021-9193/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/JB.183.19.5472-5481.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.



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