[Identification of the open reading frame coding transposase of Bordetella pertussis RS-element]

A computer-aided analysis of the repeating sequence of Bordetella pertussis chromosome (RSBP3) revealed 3 open reading frames, one of whose (ORF1) can code a protein whose structure and properties are similar to those of transposasas, i.e. enzymes in charges for the traveling of migrating genetic elements of pro- and eukaryote. Mutants of the RSBP3 insertion sequence with the affected and unaffected ORF1 sequence were constructed in order to substantiate the above assumption. Two independent experimental models (formation of inter-plasmid co-integrates and of co-integrates between plasmid and E. coli chromosome) were used to show that the RSBP3-stimulated formation of co-integrates is only true for plasmids containing RSBP3 with the unaffected ORF1 sequence. An activity of the Hpr protein (a component of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase) was proven to influence the formation process of inter-plasmid co-integrates.