Comparison of 10 IncP plasmids: homology in the regions involved in plasmid replication

We have examined the DNA homology in the replication regions of 10 IncP plasmids independently isolated from several different countries. Two regions of RK2, the best-studied plasmid of this group, are required for vegetative DNA replication: the origin of replication (oriV) and the trfA region, which codes for a gene product necessary for replication. Six of nine IncP plasmids studied were identical to RK2 in the oriV and trfA regions as shown by Southern hybridization. Three P plasmids, R751, R772, and R906, showed weaker homology with the RK2 trfA, region and hybridized to different-sized HaeII fragments than the other six plasmids. R751, R772, and R906 hybridized to the region of the RK2 replication origin which expresses P incompatibility but differed markedly from RK2 and the other six plasmids in the GC-rich region of the origin required for replication. These data indicate that the P-group plasmids can be divided into two subgroups: IncP alpha, which includes the RK2-like plasmids, and IncP beta which includes the R751-like plasmids.