In:
BMC Microbiology, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 10, No. 1 ( 2010-12)
Abstract:
Integrative and conjugative elements (ICE) form a diverse group of DNA elements that are integrated in the chromosome of the bacterial host, but can occasionally excise and horizontally transfer to a new host cell. ICE come in different families, typically with a conserved core for functions controlling the element's behavior and a variable region providing auxiliary functions to the host. The ICE clc element of Pseudomonas knackmussii strain B13 is representative for a large family of chromosomal islands detected by genome sequencing approaches. It provides the host with the capacity to degrade chloroaromatics and 2-aminophenol. Results Here we study the transcriptional organization of the ICE clc core region. By northern hybridizations, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (5'-RACE) fifteen transcripts were mapped in the core region. The occurrence and location of those transcripts were further confirmed by hybridizing labeled cDNA to a semi-tiling micro-array probing both strands of the ICE clc core region. Dot blot and semi-tiling array hybridizations demonstrated most of the core transcripts to be upregulated during stationary phase on 3-chlorobenzoate, but not on succinate or glucose. Conclusions The transcription analysis of the ICE clc core region provides detailed insights in the mode of regulatory organization and will help to further understand the complex mode of behavior of this class of mobile elements. We conclude that ICE clc core transcription is concerted at a global level, more reminiscent of a phage program than of plasmid conjugation.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1471-2180
DOI:
10.1186/1471-2180-10-153
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2010
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2041505-9
SSG:
12
