Physical mapping of the Myxococcus xanthus genome by random cloning in yeast artificial chromosomes

Random segments of Myxococcus xanthus DNA were cloned in yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) to construct a physical map of the genome. EcoRI restriction maps of 409 YAC clones with inserts averaging 111 kilobase pairs (kb) were determined. Comparison to the map of a 300-kb region of M. xanthus obtained from clones in Escherichia coli indicates that segments of DNA cloned in YACs are stably maintained in yeast and that their sequences accurately reflect the structure of the Myxococcus genome. The 409 YAC inserts were ordered within 60 map segments (contigs) by aligning their EcoRI restriction maps and by hybridization with 18 gene-specific DNA probes. These 60 map segments may represent the entire Myxococcus genome and could be used to organize its genetic information. This study illustrates the utility of YACs for cloning large segments of DNA and for reliable long-range genomic mapping.