This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rauch, P J Articles by de Vos, W M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rauch, P J Articles by de Vos, W M Agricola Articles by Rauch, P J Articles by de Vos, W M

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1994 June; 60(6): 1798-1804

Distribution and evolution of nisin-sucrose elements in Lactococcus lactis.

Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Netherlands Institute for Dairy Research NIZO.

ABSTRACT

The distribution, architecture, and conjugal capacity of nisin-sucrose elements in wild-type Lactococcus lactis strains were studied. Element architecture was analyzed with the aid of hybridizations to different probes derived from the nisin-sucrose transposon Tn5276 of L. lactis NIZO R5, including its left and right ends, the nisA gene, and IS1068 (previously designated iso-IS904), located between the left end and the nisA gene. Three classes of nisin-sucrose elements could be distinguished in the 13 strains investigated. Classes I and II consist of conjugative transposons containing a nisA gene and a nisZ gene, respectively. Representative conjugative transposons of these classes include Tn5276 (class I) from L. lactis NIZO R5 and Tn5278 (class II) from L. lactis ILC11. The class II transposon found in L. lactis NCK400 and probably all class II elements are devoid of IS1068-like elements, which eliminates the involvement of an iso-IS1068 element in conjugative transposition. Members of class III contain a nisZ gene, are nonconjugative, and do not contain sequences similar to the left end of Tn5276 at the appropriate position. The class III element from L. lactis NIZO 22186 was found to contain an iso-IS1068 element, termed IS1069, at a position corresponding to that of IS1068 in Tn5276 but in the inverted orientation. The results suggest that an iso-IS1068-mediated rearrangement is responsible for the dislocation of the transposon's left end in this strain. A model for the evolution of nisin-sucrose elements is proposed, and the practical implications for transferring nisin A or nisin Z production and immunity are discussed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Wirawan, R. E., Klesse, N. A., Jack, R. W., Tagg, J. R. (2006). Molecular and Genetic Characterization of a Novel Nisin Variant Produced by Streptococcus uberis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 1148-1156 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Skaugen, M., Andersen, E. L., Christie, V. H., Nes, I. F. (2002). Identification, Characterization, and Expression of a Second, Bicistronic, Operon Involved in the Production of Lactocin S in Lactobacillus sakei L45. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68: 720-727 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Rice, L. B. (1998). Tn916 Family Conjugative Transposons and Dissemination of Antimicrobial Resistance Determinants. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 42: 1871-1877 [Full Text]  
• Donkersloot, J. A., Thompson, J. (1995). Cloning, Expression, Sequence Analysis, and Site-directed Mutagenesis of the Tn5306-encoded N[IMAGE]-(Carboxyethyl)ornithine Synthase from Lactococcus lactis K1. J. Biol. Chem. 270: 12226-12234 [Abstract] [Full Text]