GENETICS & BIOCHEMISTRY OF PLASMID TRANSFER

质粒DNA元件在细菌间的传播 提供了一个最重要的机制， 细菌获得新的致病特性和其他遗传特性 使临床治疗复杂化的特征。 使用F 以大肠杆菌质粒接合系统为模型， 研究基因和基因产物所需的 F DNA从一个细胞传递到另一个细胞。 在我们 F转移中基因的遗传和蛋白质产物分析 我们发现了一些以前未被发现的区域 编码序列，并确定了参与 制备F-菌毛蛋白。 我们现在计划完成一个DNA序列 含有转移基因traC的F DNA片段的分析 通过trbB和表征的转移相关功能， 该地区的新基因座。 我们还提出了实验设计， 以表征F-菌毛蛋白合成的生化步骤， TraQ和其他TRA功能在此过程中的作用。

The dissemnation of plasmid DNA elements among bacteria provides one of the most important mechanisms through which bacteria gain new pathogenic traits and other genetic characteristics that complicate clinical therapy. Using the F plasmid conjugation system of Escherichia coli as a model, we are studying the genes and gene products required for the transmission of F DNA from one cell to another. During our genetic and protein product analysis of genes in the F transfer region we have discovered a number of previously unrecognized coding sequences, and identified activities that are involved in making F-pilin. We now plan to complete a DNA sequence analysis of the F DNA segment which includes transfer genes traC through trbB and to characterize the transfer related function of the new loci in this region. We also propose experiments designed to characterize the biochemical steps of F-pilin synthesis and the role of traQ and other tra functions in this process.