Plasmids Flashcards
What are Plasmids?
small, circular, extra-chromosomal DNA which replicates independently of host chromosomal DNA
Are all plasmids circular?
No, they are not.
R-factors in plasmids give bacteria what?
Antibiotic resistance
How many proteins can plasmids encode for?
Depending on their size, they can encode either a few or hundreds of different proteins
Do plasmids give large amounts of advantages to bacteria?
No, they give bacteria selective advantage only in certain conditions
When purifying plasmids, after hours of ultracentrifugation, where in the tube would you find the plasma DNA?
Due to a formation of a gradient, the plasmid would be the lower band showing
The EtBr bound to DNA makes it ___________ in salt solution made with heavy atoms such as CsCL.
less dense
What are the 3 properties of plasmids?
- Replicon (DNA molecules that can replicate autonomously in the cells
- Plasmids has one origin of replication (oriV)
- The ori region determines the mech. of replication
What are the two types of plasmid replication?
- Theta replication
2. Rolling circle
What is Theta replication?
Replication that begins by opening the two strands of DNA at the ori region, creating a structure that looks like the Greek letter “Theta” (circle with line through it)
What is unidirectional replication?
Replication that terminates when the replication fork gets back to the origin
What is bidirectional replication?
Replication that terminates when the replication fork meets somewhere on the DNA molecule opposite the origin
Rolling circle plasmid replication for this mechanism are named ________.
RC plasmid
There are two stages to rolling circle plasmid replication. What are they?
- Replicated and form double and single strand circular plasmid
- The complementary strand is synthesized on the single-stranded DNA to make another double-stranded DNA
What kind of protein is encoded by the plasmid?
Rep protein
What are the functions of the Ori regions?
- Host range
2. Regulation of copy number
When dealing with the Host range of functions, what are the ranges seen as functions of the Ori regions?
- Narrow host range
- Broad host range
- Incompatibility
- Plasmid replication control mechanism
What regulation of copy number functions of the Ori region is?
Relaxed plasmid, molecules which inhibit a plasmid replication when the number reach certain level (mechanism present in high copy plasmids
Plasmid incompatibility is when plasmids ____________, and one or the other will be lost at a higher than normal rate when the cells divide
can not coexist
What is Incompatibility group (Inc group)?
It is the plasmid members of the same Inc group that are not able to coexist
Why can’t plasmids members of the same Inc group are not able to coexist?
Because they share the same replication control mechanism and/or the same partitioning (par) functions
When dealing with plasmid replication control mechanism, what type of plasmid is regulated by a ctrRNA and Protein?
Cole1-derived plasmid
R1 and ColB1-P9 plasmid does what in bacteria?
Regulation of Rep protein by antisense RNA
How are Iteron plasmids regulated?
Regulation by Coupling
What type of plasmid are ColE1-derived plasmid?
Endogenous plasmid
ColE1-derived plasmid makes _______ protein
Immunity
Many plasmid cloning vector are derived from what type of plasmid?
ColE1-derived plasmid
ColE1-derived plasmid replication is regulated by?
RNA I (small RNA encoded by plasmid)
In ColE1-derived plasmid, RNA I interfere with the processing of RNA II by?
forming a double strand RNA.
RNA I and RNA II are ___________.
complementary
What forms the primer for plasmid replication in regards to ColE1-derived plasmid?
RNA II
Do ColE1-derived plasmid require encoded proteins to initiate DNA replication at their oriV?
No, they do not require encoded protein.
Imm stands for?
Immunity protein
Kil stands for?
lyses protein