A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Efficient insertion mutagenesis strategy for bacterial genomes involving electroporation of in vitro-assembled DNA transposition complexes of bacteriophage Mu




AuthorsLamberg A, Nieminen S, Qiao MQ, Savilahti H

PublisherAMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY

Publication year2002

Journal:Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Journal name in sourceAPPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY

Journal acronymAPPL ENVIRON MICROB

Volume68

Issue2

First page 705

Last page712

Number of pages8

ISSN0099-2240

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.68.2.705-712.2002


Abstract
An efficient insertion mutagenesis strategy for bacterial genomes based on the phage Mu DNA transposition reaction was developed. Incubation of MuA transposase protein with artificial mini-Mu transposon DNA in the absence of divalent cations in vitro resulted in stable but inactive Mu DNA transposition complexes, or transpososomes. Following delivery into bacterial cells by electroporation, the complexes were activated for DNA transposition chemistry after encountering divalent metal ions within the cells. Mini-Mu transposons were integrated into bacterial chromosomes with efficiencies ranging from 104 to 106 CFU/mug of input transposon DNA in the four species tested, i.e., Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Erwinia carotovora, and Yersinia enterocolitica. Eificiency of integration was influenced mostly by the competence status of a given strain or batch of bacteria. An accurate 5-bp target site duplication flanking the transposon, a hallmark of Mu transposition, was generated upon mini-Mu integration into the genome, indicating that a genuine DNA transposition reaction was reproduced within the cells of the bacteria studied. This insertion mutagenesis strategy for microbial genomes may be applicable to a variety of organisms provided that a means to introduce DNA into their cells is available.



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