Abstract
Exchange of nucleotide, (nt) sequences between the catIJF and pcaIJF regions of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus chromosome appears to contribute to frequent repair of mutations, including removal of a Tn5 insertion from pcaJ. Repaired nt sequences are the products of nonreciprocal genetic exchange. The length of donor catIJF nt tracts recovered in repaired pcaIJF DNA ranged from less than 315 nt to more than 881 nt. This evidence does not distinguish gene conversion from natural transformation as a cause of repair, but natural transformation does not appear to contribute significantly, because it, unlike the repair process, is inactive in the presence of DNase. High-frequency recombination between catIJF and pcaIJF raises the question of why DNA between these chromosomal regions is stable. It is possible that some of the recombinational processes associated with gene conversion are unlike those underlying natural transformation.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have