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Detection of Horizontal Gene Transfer Mediated by Natural Conjugative Plasmids in E. coli
Published on: March 24, 2023
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Crosstalk between vertical and horizontal gene transfer: plasmid replication control by a conjugative relaxase
Fabián Lorenzo-Díaz1,2, Cris Fernández-López3, Rudi Lurz4
1Departamento de Bioquímica, Microbiología, Biología Celular y Genética, Universidad de La Laguna. Av. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez s/n, 38071 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
Nucleic Acids Research
|May 20, 2017
Summary
Mobile plasmids drive antibiotic resistance spread. The MobM relaxase in plasmid pMV158 regulates plasmid copy number by repressing antisense RNA, enhancing gene transfer and inheritance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is crucial for bacterial evolution and eukaryotic genetic variation.
- Small mobile bacterial plasmids (<10 kb) replicating via rolling circle are key drivers of antibiotic resistance spread.
- Plasmids typically contain modules for replication, antibiotic resistance, and mobilization, with copy number regulated by antisense RNAs or repressor proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of MobM conjugative relaxase in plasmid copy number regulation.
- To explore the interaction between genetic modules controlling vertical and horizontal gene flow.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the promiscuous plasmid pMV158.
- Investigating the function of the MobM relaxase.
- Studying the regulation of antisense RNA transcription.
Main Results:
- The MobM relaxase represses the transcription of antisense RNA.
- This repression increases the plasmid copy number.
- This mechanism enhances both plasmid mobilization (horizontal transfer) and replication (vertical inheritance).
Conclusions:
- A novel crosstalk mechanism between genetic modules involved in vertical and horizontal gene flow was discovered.
- MobM relaxase acts as a regulator of plasmid copy number, impacting gene transfer efficiency.
- This finding provides new insights into plasmid biology and the spread of antibiotic resistance.
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