The broad host-range plasmid R1162, widely disseminated among different Gram-negative bacterial species, is conjugally transferred from cell to cell by other, self-transmissible plasmids. Mobilization requires the formation of a relaxosome comprised of a plasmid origin of transfer (oriT), bound to three, plasmid-encoded mobilization (Mob) proteins. This complex is required both to process the DNA for transfer, and to recognize the conjugal machinery of the transferring vector. The principal component of the relaxosome, MobA, is a DNA endonuclease and ligase. The protein domain that binds oriT will be identified by phage display, and the DNA recognition sequence determined by binding MobA to a degenerate oligonucleotide. Within the relaxosome, there is partial separation of the oriT DNA strands. How this occurs will be investigated by characterizing the interaction of MobA and the other relaxosome proteins with oriT heteroduplexes. Genetic evidence indicates that MobB stabilizes the relaxosome and promotes efficient transfer by interacting with MobA. Physical evidence for this interaction will be obtained by coimmunoprecipitation. The conjugal apparatus of the IncP-1 plasmid RK2 efficiently mobilizes R1162. The protein component recognized by R1162 and required for the plasmid to enter a round of transfer will be identified either by an affinity overlay procedure, or by direct immunoprecipitation. The interacting domain of this protein will be mapped by phage display or by a bacterial two-hybrid assay. A co-reversion study will be carried out to establish whether this domain is also recognized by RK2 itself. In addition, mutations in R1162 that increase the frequency of mobilization will be isolated and tested for interference of RK2 cotransfer. The mob systems of plasmids R1162 and pSC101 are clearly related, with similar oriTs and MobA proteins. However, pSCl0l encodes no homologs to the R1162 proteins MobB and MobC. How pSCl0l has become independent of these proteins will investigated. Overall, these studies will provide insight into how the relaxosome directs plasmid DNA to the conjugal pore for transfer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM037462-16
Application #
6635945
Study Section
Microbial Physiology and Genetics Subcommittee 2 (MBC)
Program Officer
Rhoades, Marcus M
Project Start
1986-12-01
Project End
2005-06-30
Budget Start
2003-07-01
Budget End
2005-06-30
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$242,813
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Austin
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
170230239
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78712
Becker, Eric C; Meyer, Richard (2012) Origin and fate of the 3' ends of single-stranded DNA generated by conjugal transfer of plasmid R1162. J Bacteriol 194:5368-76
de la Cruz, Fernando; Frost, Laura S; Meyer, Richard J et al. (2010) Conjugative DNA metabolism in Gram-negative bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Rev 34:18-40
Meyer, Richard (2009) Replication and conjugative mobilization of broad host-range IncQ plasmids. Plasmid 62:57-70
Monzingo, Arthur F; Ozburn, Angela; Xia, Shuangluo et al. (2007) The structure of the minimal relaxase domain of MobA at 2.1 A resolution. J Mol Biol 366:165-78
Jandle, Sarah; Meyer, Richard (2006) Stringent and relaxed recognition of oriT by related systems for plasmid mobilization: implications for horizontal gene transfer. J Bacteriol 188:499-506
Parker, Christopher; Meyer, Richard (2005) Mechanisms of strand replacement synthesis for plasmid DNA transferred by conjugation. J Bacteriol 187:3400-6
Parker, Christopher; Becker, Eric; Zhang, Xiaolin et al. (2005) Elements in the co-evolution of relaxases and their origins of transfer. Plasmid 53:113-8
Zhang, Xiaolin; Zhang, Shuyu; Meyer, Richard J (2003) Molecular handcuffing of the relaxosome at the origin of conjugative transfer of the plasmid R1162. Nucleic Acids Res 31:4762-8
Becker, Eric C; Meyer, Richard J (2003) Relaxed specificity of the R1162 nickase: a model for evolution of a system for conjugative mobilization of plasmids. J Bacteriol 185:3538-46
Parker, Christopher; Zhang, Xiao-lin; Henderson, Dorian et al. (2002) Conjugative DNA synthesis: R1162 and the question of rolling-circle replication. Plasmid 48:186-92

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