Mode of replication of the conjugative R-plasmid RSF1040 in Escherichia coli

Replicating deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules of plasmid RSF1040, a deletion mutant of the conjugative R plasmid R6K, appear in the electron microscope as partially supercoiled structures with two open circular branches of equal size, although open structures with three branches, two branching points and no supercoiled regions (theta structures) were also found at a lower frequency. The partially supercoiled molecules sediment more rapidly than native covalently closed circular DNA in neutral sucrose gradients and band at a position intermediate between covalently closed circular and open circular DNA in CsClethidium bromide gradients. Electron microscope measurements of the linear EcoRI-treated replicative intermediates indicate that replication can be initiated at two sites (origins) on the plasmid DNA molecule located at about 23% (alpha) and 39% (beta) of the total genome length from an EcoRI end designated arbitrarily as the "left-hand" end of the molecule. The overall replication of RSF1040 is asymmetrically bidirectional. Replication from the alpha origin proceeds first to the "right" to a unique termination site located some 55% of the total genome length from the left-hand end of the molecule. At this point replication proceeds from the alpha origin to the "left" (i.e., opposite to the original direction of replication) until replication of the molecule is completed. Replication also proceeds from the beta origin asymmetrically to the unique terminus site.