COMPARTMENTALIZATION OF PLASMIDS IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

细菌中的染色体外成分，即质粒，现在已被广泛认识 共同的实体。 然而，控制它们在宿主体内的维持， 细胞基本上是未知的。 我们和其他人的研究表明， 质粒在细胞中不能自由扩散，而是被隔离在 这些位点似乎对质粒或质粒群具有特异性， 质粒。 例如，我们已经证明，一些，但不是全部， 质粒将分离到E.在细胞内形成的大肠杆菌小细胞 波兰人 F质粒通常不分离，但区域突变 靠近复制起点，允许质粒分离成 微细胞 使用不同的分离和非分离迷你F 质粒已经引入了一个系统，在其中研究这种控制 这一现象似乎说明了质粒的一种形式， 细胞内的区室化。 我们的研究将找出 控制小F质粒分离，并鉴定那些似乎 抑制F和R222分离成小细胞。 研究将试图 表征生物过程并识别蛋白质或RNA 参与这一过程的影响者。 这些研究涉及一个基本的 质粒的性质以前没有得到解决。 结果 在生物学中应该有特定和普遍的含义。

Extrachromosomal elements, plasmids, in bacteria are now well-recognized and common entities. Yet, the control of their maintenance in the host cell is largely unknown. Our studies and those of others suggest that plasmids are not freely diffusible in the cell, but are sequestered in particular sites which appear to be specific for a plasmid or group of plasmids. We have, for instance, demonstrated that some, but not all plasmids will segregate into E. coli minicells which form at the cell poles. F plasmids do not normally segregate, but mutations in regions close to the origin of replication allow the plasmid to now segregate into minicells. The use of different segregating and non-segregating mini F plasmids has introduced a system in which to study the control of this phenomenon which appears to illustrate a form of plasmid compartmentalization in the cell. Our studies will identify genes which control mini F plasmid segregation and identify those genes which appear to inhibit F and R222 segregation into minicells. Studies will attempt to characterize the biologic process and to identify the protein or RNA effectors involved in this process. These studies deal with a basic property of plasmids which has not previously been addressed. Findings should have both specific and general implications in biology.