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The TraM protein of the conjugative plasmid F binds to the origin of transfer of the F and ColE1 plasmids
Laura di Laurenzio,
Laura S. Frost,
William Paranchych,
Laura di Laurenzio
Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2ED.
Search for more papers by this authorLaura S. Frost
Department of Microbiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2ED.
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
William Paranchych
Department of Microbiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2ED.
*Tel. (403) 492 3277; Fax (403) 492 2216.Search for more papers by this authorLaura di Laurenzio,
Laura S. Frost,
William Paranchych,
Laura di Laurenzio
Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2ED.
Search for more papers by this authorLaura S. Frost
Department of Microbiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2ED.
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
William Paranchych
Department of Microbiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2ED.
*Tel. (403) 492 3277; Fax (403) 492 2216.Search for more papers by this authorSummary
The gene encoding the TraM protein of the conjugative plasmid F was cloned, overexpressed and the gene product was purified. The TraM protein was found in the cytoplasm of cells carrying the F plasmid with a smaller amount in the inner membrane. DNase I footprinting experiments showed that the purified protein protects three regions in the F ori T locus with different affinity for the upper and lower strands of DNA. A 15-nucleotide motif was identified within the protected regions that represented the DNA-binding site. The TraM protein was also found to bind to a sequence in the oriT region of the non-conjugative plasmid ColE1 that resembles the three binding sites in the F oriT region.
References
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