Replication enhancer requirement for recognition of heterologous replication origin by an initiator protein

In the pT181 plasmid family, the replication initiation protein (Rep) encoded by each plasmid recognizes only its cognate origin, unless the Rep protein is expressed at abnormally high levels. Heterologous recognition of the origin of the pC221 plasmid by the RepC protein of the pT181 plasmid requires that cmp, the pT181 replication enhancer, be present on the same plasmid as the origin of replication. These findings indicate that cmp has a role in the specificity of Rep-ori recognition and support the model that cmp facilitates the formation/stabilization of the RepC-origin complex.