Plasmid replication in a temperature-sensitive chromosome replication mutant of Staphylococcus aureus
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Updated: Sep 16, 2026

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Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: March 10, 2017
Journal of General Microbiology
|July 1, 1983
Abstract:
Replication of the antibiotic resistance plasmids pI258, pT10501 and pC221 has been investigated in a mutant of Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 8325, which is temperature-sensitive for the initiation of chromosome replication. Replication of pI258 stopped rapidly at the nonpermissive temperature, whilst replication of pT10501 and pC221 continued (although at a lower rate than in the wild-type). It is proposed that the product of the mutant gene may be required directly for pI258 replication, but not for replication of pT10501 or pC221.
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Replication in Prokaryotes
DNA replication has three main steps: initiation, elongation, and termination. Replication in prokaryotes begins when initiator proteins bind to the single origin of replication (ori) on the cell’s circular chromosome. Replication then proceeds around the entire circle of the chromosome in each direction from two replication forks, resulting in two DNA molecules.Many Proteins Work Together to Replicate the ChromosomeReplication is coordinated and carried out by a host of specialized proteins.
Replication in Prokaryotes
DNA replication has three main steps: initiation, elongation, and termination. Replication in prokaryotes begins when initiator proteins bind to the single origin of replication (ori) on the cell's circular chromosome. Replication then proceeds around the entire circle of the chromosome in each direction from the two replication forks, resulting in two DNA molecules.
Many Proteins Work Together to Replicate the Chromosome
Replication is coordinated and carried out by a host of specialized...
Many Proteins Work Together to Replicate the Chromosome
Replication is coordinated and carried out by a host of specialized...
Plasmids
Plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA molecules found in bacteria, archaea, and some eukaryotic microbes like yeast. These small, circular DNA structures typically contain fewer than 30 genes, although some may exist linearly. Plasmids vary in their number within a cell, known as copy number. Single-copy plasmids are present in one copy per cell and multi-copy plasmids are present in multiple copies, reaching over 100 copies per cell.Plasmids usually replicate independently of the chromosomal DNA...

