Mobilization of the non-conjugative plasmid RSF1010: a genetic and DNA sequence analysis of the mobilization region

The entire region required for mobilization of the non-conjugative plasmid RSF1010 has been cloned into a mobilization-deficient pBR322 derivative. The segment of DNA cloned was approximately 1.8 kb and included the origin of conjugal DNA transfer (oriT). The DNA sequence of the mobilization region has been determined, and revealed the presence of several overlapping reading frames. The isolation and mapping of both Tn1725 and BamH1-linker insertions and comparison with the DNA sequence data has allowed the identification of three genes required for mobilization. Two of these genes are overlapping and encode proteins of 16 kDa and greater than 65 kDa (although the truncated protein is functional, the gene extends outside the region cloned). The third gene is transcribed in the opposite direction. Promoters capable of transcribing these genes were located by S1 mapping in the inter-cistronic region between these divergently transcribed genes. The oriT site is located in this region, and the transcriptional patterns observed for mob+ and mob- plasmids implied that the promoters may be regulated by two of the mobilization proteins binding to the oriT site.