ICETh1 and ICETh2, two interdependent mobile genetic elements in Thermus thermophilus transjugation. (2nd December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baquedano, Ignacio; Mencía, Mario; Blesa, Alba; Burrus, Vincent; Berenguerfi, José
• Is Part Of: Environmental microbiology. Volume 22:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 158
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2019-12-02
• Subjects: Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Environmental Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14833
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-2912

Abstract

Summary: Cell to cell DNA transfer between Thermus thermophilus, or transjugation, requires the natural competence apparatus (NCA) of the recipient cell and a DNA donation machinery in the donor. In T . thermophilus HB27, two mobile genetic elements with functional similarities to Integrative and Conjugative Elements (ICEs) coexist, ICETh1 encoding the DNA transfer apparatus and ICETh2, encoding a putative replication module. Here, we demonstrate that excision and integration of both elements depend on a single tyrosine recombinase encoded by ICETh2, and that excision is not required but improves the transfer of these elements to a recipient cell. These findings along with previous results suggest that ICETh1 and ICETh2 depend on each other for spreading among T . thermophilus by transjugation.