Transfer of RP4::Mu plasmids from Escherichia coli K12 to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus EBF65/65 was very inefficient compared with RP4 and was only detectable to strains of EBF65/65 lacking pAV2, a cryptic plasmid thought to code for a restriction/modification system. RP4::Mu-derived plasmids transferred from pAV2−strains of EBF65/65 back to E. coli K12 were found to carry defective prophages which had lost the abilityto produce detectable phage particles. Re-transfer of these defective plasmids from hsmk+and hsmk strains of E. coli K12 back to EBF65/65, when compared with the transfer of RP4, provided evidence for a second restriction/modification system in EBF65/65 which affected mainly Mu DNA. Using a mutant Mu prophage, Mu cts62 r23, it was possible to obtain RP4::Mu plasmids in EBF65/65 which were non-defective. These produced viable Mu particles when transferred back to E. coli K12 and could also be thermoinduced in EBF65/65; however, expression of Mu in EBF65/65 was very poor and plaques were only detected on a restrictionless strain of E. coli K12. ‘Plasmid suicide by Mu’ may enable the development of a method for directed chromosome mobilization in A. calcoaceticus.
BarthP. T.,
GrinterN. J.1974; Comparison of the deoxyribonucleic acid molecular weights and homologies of plasmids conferring linked resistance to streptomycin and sulphonamides. Journal of Bacteriology 120:618–630
BoucherC.,
BergeronB.,
Barate De BertalmioM.,
DÉnariÉJ.1977; Introduction of bacteriophage Mu into Pseudomonas solanacearum and Rhizobium meliloti using the R factor RP4. Journal of General Microbiology 98:253–263
BukhariA. I.,
LjungquistE.1977; Bacteriophage Mu: methods for cultivation and use. In DNA Insertion Elements, Plasmids, and Episomes pp. 749–756BukhariA. I.,
ShapiroJ. A.,
AdhyaS. L.
Edited by New York:: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory;
CoplinD. L.1979; Introduction of bacteriophage Mu into Erwinia stewartii by use of an RK2::Mu hybrid plasmid. Journal of General Microbiology 113:181–184
DattaN.,
HedgesR. W.,
ShawE. J.,
SykesR. B.,
RichmondM. H.1971; Properties of an R factor from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Bacteriology 108:1244–1249
De GraafJ.,
KreuningP. C.,
Van De PutteP.1973; Host-controlled restriction and modification of bacteriophage Mu and Mu-promoted chromosome mobilization in Citrobacter freundii. Molecular and General Genetics 123:283–288
DÉnariÉJ.,
RosenbergC.,
BergeronB.,
BoucherC.,
MichelM.,
Barate De BartalmioM.1977; Potential of RP4::Mu plasmids for in vivo genetic engineering of Gram-negative bacteria. In DNA Insertion Elements, Plasmids, and Episomes pp. 507–520BukhariA. I.,
ShapiroJ. A.,
AdhyaS. L.
Edited by New York:: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory;
HinchliffeE.,
NugentM. E.,
VivianA.1980; Naturally occurring plasmids in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: pAV2, a plasmid which influences the fertility of the sex factor pAV1. Journal of General Microbiology 121:411–418
TownerK. J.,
VivianA.1977; Plasmids capable of transfer and chromosome mobilization in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Journal of General Microbiology 101:167–171
Van De PutteP.,
GruijthuijsenM.1972; Chromosome mobilization and integration of F factors in the chromosome of recA strains of E. coli under the influence of bacteriophage Mu-1. Molecular and General Genetics 118:173–183