Bacterial Plasmids and Genetic Organization

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the types, characteristics, and specific examples of bacterial plasmids as discussed in the lecture notes.

Plasmids

Extrachromosomal DNA molecules that play an important role in bacterial genetics and often carry additional traits like antibiotic resistance.

Bacteriophages

Viruses that infect bacteria; some, such as P1, can exist as plasmid-like DNA molecules rather than integrating into the chromosome.

F plasmid (fertility plasmid)

A conjugative plasmid carrying the fertility factor that enables bacteria to transfer genetic material through conjugation.

tra (transfer) region

A region in the F plasmid containing genes that direct the formation of a sex pilus and facilitate DNA transfer.

oriT (origin of transfer)

The specific site on a plasmid where DNA transfer begins during the process of conjugation.

oriV (origin of replication)

The site that allows a plasmid to replicate independently within the host cell.

R Plasmid (Resistance Plasmid)

Conjugative resistance plasmids that carry genes (R factors) conferring resistance to one or more antibiotics.

Transposons

Genetic elements that have played an important role in the evolution of drug-resistance plasmids by moving resistance genes between plasmids and chromosomes.

Col Plasmid

Small, nonconjugative plasmids present in multiple copies that carry colicinogenic factors encoding protein toxins.

Colicins

Protein toxins encoded by Col plasmids that kill or inhibit closely related bacterial strains, particularly coliform bacteria.

Colicinogenic strains

Strains of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, that produce colicins and contain an immunity gene for self-protection.

ColE1

A well-studied plasmid whose replication mechanism serves as the foundation for many E. coli cloning vectors in genetic engineering.

Bacteriocins

A collective term for protein toxins similar to colicins produced by various bacterial species, used for interspecies typing.

Pyocin

A specific bacteriocin produced by the bacterial species Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Marscesins

Bacteriocins produced by the bacterial species Serratia marcescens.

Diphthericin

A bacteriocin produced by the bacterial species Corynebacterium diphtheria.

Degradative Plasmids

Plasmids that carry genes enabling host bacteria to degrade recalcitrant organic compounds not commonly found in nature.

WW53 Tol plasmid

A $170\,kb$ degradative plasmid that carries genes for toluene metabolism in Pseudomonas putida MT53.

Virulence Plasmids

Plasmids carrying genes that encode factors enhancing a bacterium's ability to infect host cells and cause disease.

Ti (tumor-inducing) plasmid

A plasmid found in Agrobacterium tumefaciens that causes crown gall disease in plants by inducing tumor formation.