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RelA mutation and pBR322 plasmid amplification in amino acid-starved cells of Escherichia coli

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

Sabine Riethdorf*
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Jahnstr. 15, GDR-2200 Greifswald
Andreas Schroeter
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Jahnstr. 15, GDR-2200 Greifswald
Michael Hecker
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Jahnstr. 15, GDR-2200 Greifswald
*
* Corresponding author.
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Summary

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Plasmid pBR322 is amplified following amino-acid limitation in Escherichia coli relA hosts. In relA+ hosts there was no significant amplification or a much smaller one. Plasmid amplification is due to the relA mutation; when the relA+ allele is transferred into the relA mutant CP79 this strain no longer amplifies plasmid DNA during amino acid starvation. It is concluded that ppGpp is a negative effector of plasmid replication. Amplification is temperature dependent, being maximal at 32 °C and negligible at 37 °C.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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