[Nucleotide sequence and properties of an inverted repeating element of a Bordetella pertussis chromosome]

The repeated sequence from Bordetella pertussis chromosome was cloned using the method described by Ohtsubo. The sequences of the characterized B. pertussis chromosome are homologous to the previously described sequences and analogous in the structure to the already known IS elements. The parental recombinant plasmids containing the RS were unstable and segregated to the plasmids of different structure. The segregants' structure is characterized in this paper. It is shown in our study that the RS element is able to stimulate intragenomic rearrangements, such as deletions. It is shown that at least one deletion begins precisely after 3' end of RS and terminates with the sequence which is completely homologous to ten terminal nucleotides of this one. Probably, RSs stimulate at high frequency the formation of deletions, which appear to be the result of recA-independent site-specific recombination between short direct repeats.