Briefly explain 'tra' gene transfer mechanism by E coli bacteria.
Solution:
Conjugation in bacteria is a type of genetic recombination. It is a mechanism where the gene transfer requires direct contact between the donor and recipient cell. For example in E.coli, the donor replicates its chromosome and this copy is transferred to the recipient when they are in direct contact. Then the separation of both the cell occurs and gene transfer stops.
In bacteria, conjugation is encoded by plasmids or transposons. The donor bacterium contains a conjugative plasmid which is self transmissible and a recipient cell does not contain it. A conjugative plasmid possesses conjugation genes known as tra genes. These genes help the bacterium in forming a mating pair with another organism. In addition, the OriT (origin of transfer) sequences make the DNA move through the conjugative bridge. They determine the replication start site on the plasmid DNA.
Conjugation in bacteria is a type of genetic recombination. It is a mechanism where the gene transfer requires direct contact between the donor and recipient cell. For example in E.coli, the donor replicates its chromosome and this copy is transferred to the recipient when they are in direct contact. Then the separation of both the cell occurs and gene transfer stops.
In bacteria, conjugation is encoded by plasmids or transposons. The donor bacterium contains a conjugative plasmid which is self transmissible and a recipient cell does not contain it. A conjugative plasmid possesses conjugation genes known as tra genes. These genes help the bacterium in forming a mating pair with another organism. In addition, the OriT (origin of transfer) sequences make the DNA move through the conjugative bridge. They determine the replication start site on the plasmid DNA.