Related Experiment Videos
IS231-MIC231 elements from Bacillus cereus sensu lato are modular
Daniel De Palmenaer1, Céline Vermeiren, Jacques Mahillon
1Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2/12, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. depalmenaer@mbla.ucl.ac.be
Molecular Microbiology
|July 2, 2004
Summary
Mobile insertion elements related to IS231A exhibit significant structural diversity in Bacillus species. These elements, including mobile insertion cassettes (MICs), can carry various passenger genes, such as antibiotic resistance determinants, contributing to genome plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- IS231A is a 1.6 kb insertion sequence (IS) from Bacillus thuringiensis with transposase gene and inverted repeats.
- MIC231A1, a variation, contains an active d-stereospecific endopeptidase (adp) gene instead of a transposase and is mobilized by IS231A transposase.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural diversity and complexity of IS231A-like elements and MIC231 elements.
- To characterize novel mobile elements and their potential role in bacterial genome evolution.
Main Methods:
- Bioinformatic analysis of IS231A-like elements.
- Characterization of mobile insertion cassettes (MICs) including MIC231V.
- In vivo transposition assays to assess element mobility and activation.
Main Results:
- Identified a broad range of IS231A-like elements with increased structural complexity.
- Discovered MIC231 elements varying from empty cassettes to those with up to three passenger genes.
- MIC231V contains both adp and a fosfomycin resistance gene, and is trans-activated by IS231A transposase.
Conclusions:
- The IS231-MIC231 family represents a diverse set of modular mobile elements.
- These elements contribute to genome plasticity in the Bacillus cereus/B. thuringiensis group.
- The findings highlight the dynamic nature of bacterial genomes through mobile genetic elements.