M icrobial G enetics

G ene T ransfer
C hapter 8
 Genetic Recombination
‡ V ertical gene
transfer: Occurs
during reproduction
between generations
of cells.
‡ Horizontal gene
transfer: The transfer
of genes between cells
of the same
generation.
 Horizontal G ene T ransfer
1. T ransformation

2. T ransduction

3. Conjugation
 1. T R A NSF O R M A T I O N

G enes are transfer red from one

EDFWHULXPWRDQRWKHUDV³QDNHG´'1$
in solution.
a. naturally occurs in a few bacteria
«EDFWHULDPXVWEHCompetent
b. bacteria made competent artificially
c. approx 20 genes
Genetic Transformation

Figure 8.24
Transformation
 2. T ransduction
T ransport of D N A from one bacterium to
another bacterium by a virus

a. G eneralized vs specialized transduction

b. 3KDJHFDQ³DFFLGHQWDOO\´SLFNXSKRVW'1$
during assembly: defective phage

c. Defective phage can now transfer D N A

from host (the Donor) to another
bacterium (Recipient)
Generalized Transduction by a Bacteriophage

Figure 8.28
Specialized Transduction

Figure 13.13
Transduction
 3. C O NJU G A T I O N
D irect transfer of D N A from bacterial
donor cell to a recipient.
a. M ediated by plasmid
b. requires cell to cell contact: established
by pili in most G ram negative cells
c. Spread of A ntibiotic resistance
d. Plasmid or C hromosome moves as
VLQJOHVWUDQGRI'1$««WZRW\SHV
Conjugation: T ransfer of a plasmid
1. Donor cell has F plasmid and hence is
refer red to as )«V\QWKHVLVRISLOL
2. Recipient cell lacks F plasmid, hence
F¯
3. O nly one strand of plasmid
transfer red
4. A fter conjugation, both donor and
recipient become F +
Conjugation in E. coli

Figure 8.27a
Conjugation
 Plasmids
1. O ne/M any types of plasmids in a single cell
eg. F, R, T i.
2. A few or several copies of a plasmid
(high/low copy number plasmid)
3. Nar row/broad range plasmids
4. Nonessential functions car ried on
plasmids-spontaneous deletion
5. $OOSODVPLGV«PXVWEHDEOHWR
replicate
Conjugation: T ransfer of a plasmid
and chromosomal D N A
1. Donor cell is H fr : has F plasmid. How
is it different from F +?
2. Recipient cell lacks F plasmid, hence F ¯
3. H fr cell conjugates with F ¯ cell
4. E nd result: H fr cell and recombinant
F ¯ cell
Conjugation in E. coli

Figure 8.27b
Conjugation in E. coli

Figure 8.27c
Conjugation: C hromosomal transfer
 Transposons
‡ Segments of D N A that can move from one
region of D N A to another
‡ Contain insertion sequences for cutting and
resealing D N A (transposase)
‡ Complex transposons car ry other genes

Figure 8.30a, b
 T R A NSP OSO NS

‡ all transposons contain info needed to

insert selves in genetic material
‡ frequency similar to spontaneous
mutations
‡ involvement in evolution of organisms
--can car ry genes with them;
e.g. antibiotic resistance
Transposons