Conjugal mobility of the multicopy plasmids NTP1 and NTP16

Abstract

Mobilization of the multicopy plasmid NTP16, like that of ColE1, is promoted by a range of conjugal plasmids. However, the mechanisms employed for NTP16 mobilization differ between groups. Mobilization by the IncI1 plasmid R64 requires trans-acting products from NTP16 plus a cis-acting region of the small plasmid. In contrast, this system is used inefficiently by the F plasmid and instead, a high-frequency conduction process occurs. Analysis of exconjugant cells reveals that F-mediated mobilization of NTP16 frequently involves rearrangements of NTP16 DNA, promoted by the Tn1000 transposon of F and/or by the kanamycin resistance transposon (Tn4352) of NTP16. Possible mechanisms for the high-frequency F-mediated mobilization of NTP16 are discussed. The plasmid NTP1, which is closely related to NTP16, is also mobilized efficiently by R64. It is not however efficiently mobilized by F, demonstrating the requirement for the Tn4352 element, which is not present in this plasmid, for effective F-mediated transfer.