Transcriptome analysis of the mobile genome ICE<it>clc </it>in <it>Pseudomonas knackmussii </it>B13

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Integrative and conjugative elements (ICE) form a diverse group of DNA elements that are integrated in the chromosome of the bacterial host, but can occasionally excise and horizontally transfer to a new host cell. ICE come in different families, typically with a conserved core for functions controlling the element's behavior and a variable region providing auxiliary functions to the host. The ICE<it>clc </it>element of <it>Pseudomonas knackmussii </it>strain B13 is representative for a large family of chromosomal islands detected by genome sequencing approaches. It provides the host with the capacity to degrade chloroaromatics and 2-aminophenol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we study the transcriptional organization of the ICE<it>clc </it>core region. By northern hybridizations, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (5'-RACE) fifteen transcripts were mapped in the core region. The occurrence and location of those transcripts were further confirmed by hybridizing labeled cDNA to a semi-tiling micro-array probing both strands of the ICE<it>clc </it>core region. Dot blot and semi-tiling array hybridizations demonstrated most of the core transcripts to be upregulated during stationary phase on 3-chlorobenzoate, but not on succinate or glucose.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The transcription analysis of the ICE<it>clc </it>core region provides detailed insights in the mode of regulatory organization and will help to further understand the complex mode of behavior of this class of mobile elements. We conclude that ICE<it>clc </it>core transcription is concerted at a global level, more reminiscent of a phage program than of plasmid conjugation.</p>

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

A person counts once a day per paper. We keep no cookie and no address: a reader is a hash that changes every day. Any month under five reads shows no number.