Autonomous plasmid-like replication of Bacillus ICEBs1: a general feature of integrative conjugative elements?

Molecular Microbiology
Elisabeth Grohmann

Abstract

Integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) occur frequently in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In contrast to plasmids, they are stably integrated in the bacterial genome, often inserted in a tRNA gene. They are excised from the host chromosome upon induction in order to be transferred to a recipient cell. When conjugative transfer is completed, they stably reintegrate in the chromosome. It is generally thought that ICEs are incapable of autonomous replication, instead relying on replication and segregation along with the host chromosome. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology Lee and co-workers demonstrate that ICEBs1 from Bacillus subtilis is capable of autonomous plasmid-like replication in its circular form after excision. The authors show that ICEBs1 replication is unidirectional; it initiates at oriT(ICEBs1) and requires the ICEBs1-encoded conjugative relaxase NicK. Replication also requires the catalytic subunit of the host DNA polymerase PolC, the host processivity clamp DnaN and the host-encoded alternative helicase PcrA. Autonomous replication of ICEBs1 appears to be important for its stable maintenance, but not for horizontal transfer of the element. Lee and co-workers argue that plasmid-like replication is l...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Mar 17, 2011·MBio·Ana BabicAlan D Grossman
Mar 5, 2016·Mobile Genetic Elements·Nicolas Carraro, Vincent Burrus
Mar 5, 2016·Mobile Genetic Elements·Joshua P Ramsay, Clive W Ronson
Sep 9, 2015·Frontiers in Microbiology·Dominic Poulin-LapradeVincent Burrus
Dec 19, 2017·Frontiers in Microbiology·Paweł WawrzyniakDariusz Bartosik
Dec 21, 2014·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Florence TardyChristine Citti
Nov 13, 2019·Environmental Microbiology·Ignacio BaquedanoJosé Berenguerfi
Jun 25, 2015·Microbiology Spectrum·Nicolas Carraro, Vincent Burrus

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