Microbial Genetics (Micr340) Lecture 8 Conjugation and Transformation
Conjugation
Definitions Conjugation - a process in which a plasmid transfer itself and other DNA elements from one cell to another Donor bacterium - a bacterium originally contains the plasmid Recipient bacterium - a bacterium that receives the transferred plasmid Transconjugant - a recipient cell that has received DNA as a result of conjugation
Conjugation Most naturally occurring plasmids are either: self-transmissible mobilizable In Gram- bacteria, sex pili facilitate conjugation “Promiscuous plasmids” possess transfer systems that enable them to transfer DNA between unrelated species
pKM101
Conjugation in Gram- Transfer (tra) genes Dtr component Mpf component The oriT sequence and function
Mpf function
Pilus formation
Regulation of tra genes
oriT identification
Plasmid mobilization
Plasmid mobilization (continued)
Conjugation in Gram- Triparental mating
Chromosome transfer by plasmids Formation of Hfr strains Transfer of chromosomal DNA by integrated plasmids Genetic mapping with Hfr crosses
Transformation
DNA exchange in bacteria Three ways Conjugation Transformation Transduciton
Natural transformation Natural competence Discovery - the Griffith experiment
Gram + DNA uptake system
Gram - DNA uptake system
Transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae
Transformation in Haemophilus influenzae
Artificially induced competence Calcium Ion Induction transformation by plasmids transfection - use of viral DNAs or genomic RNA in transformation Electroporation