Genetic characterization of insertion sequence ISJP4 on plasmid pJP4 from Ralstonia eutropha JMP134

Directly adjacent to the (tfdT-) tfdCDEF gene cluster for chlorocatechol breakdown on plasmid pJP4 of Ralstonia eutropha (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus) JMP134, we identified a 0.9-kb DNA element, designated ISJP4, with the typical features of a bacterial insertion sequence. ISJP4 occurs as a single complete copy on plasmid pJP4. About 9 kb away from this copy, in the tfdA-tfdS intergenic region, we found a 71-bp duplication of the ISJP4 right-hand extremity. In addition, we discovered a complete copy of ISJP4 on the chromosome of the R. eutropha JMP134 strain that we use routinely in our laboratory. We suppose that this copy resulted from a recent transposition of the plasmid-borne ISJP4, since it was shown to be lacking from the chromosomes of R. eutropha JMP222 and JMP289, two previously pJP4-cured derivatives of JMP134. By comparing both complete copies and their flanking regions, we could establish that element ISJP4 has a size of 915 bp and is bordered by 18-bp inverted repeats with one mismatch. Based on sequence similarity of its coding regions, ISJP4 could be classified into the IS5 group of the IS4 family of bacterial insertion sequences, where it is mostly related to IS402 of Burkholderia cepacia. A TAA direct repeat, presumably resulting from a duplication of the target site, flanked the chromosomal copy of ISJP4. We could demonstrate that a piece of DNA that is flanked by two complete copies of ISJP4 can be transposed. Even more so, one complete ISJP4 plus its tfdA-tfdS intergenic remnant were sufficient to mediate transposition of intervening DNA. A possible role of ISJP4 in the formation of the tfd pathway genes will be discussed.