[Recombination of plasmids with inverted repeats in Bacillus subtilis cells]

The plasmid pNB48 carring a pair of genetically distinct inverted repeats is constructed on the basis of plasmid pSM19035 replicon. The single Campbell-type recombination between inverted repeats of two circular monomers leads to the formation of the so called "inverted" dimers in Bacillus subtilis cells. The gene conversion is observed in the course of this recombination. The mechanism of structural rearrangements of plasmids with inverted repeats that was postulated earlier is confirmed now. Some replicon features may influence the recombination of plasmids in Bacillus subtilis cells. The plasmid pNB48 may be a suitable model for studying the genetic recombination in Bacillus subtilis.