Abstract
Acinetobacter strain ADP1 (also known as strain BD413) is unusual among bacteria in the frequency with which it incorporates DNA into its chromosome (chr) by natural transformation. Since there is no requirement for uptake sequences to be present in the donor DNA, strain ADP1 can be transformed by DNA from any source. Unlike many other naturally transformable bacteria, Acinetobacter strain ADP1 is competent throughout most of its growth cycle, in virtually any medium that supports growth (1). Recombinant colonies can be either selected or screened on simple growth media within a day after transformation. Manipulated DNA can be substituted for its wild-type counterpart in the chr, and the function of the substituted DNA can be assessed at the level of phenotype. As described here, natural transformation allows chromosomal recovery of DNA that has gained random nucleotide substitutions during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Observed changes in phenotype can be correlated to changes in nucleotide sequence, and thus permit a general survey of how changes in structure influence function in the gene product. Alternatively, nucleotide substitution can be used to alter the substrate specificity or kinetics of a gene product.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Palmen, R. and Hellingwerf, K. J. (1997) Uptake and processing of DNA by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: a review. Gene 192, 179–190.
Kok, R. G., D’Argenio, D. A., and Ornston, L. N. (1997) Combining localized PCR mutagenesis and natural transformation in direct genetic analysis of a tran-scriptional regulator gene, pobR. J. Bacteriol. 179, 4270–4276.
Kok, R. G., D’Argenio, D. A., and Ornston, L. N. (1998) Mutational analysis of PobR and PcaU, closely related transcriptional activators in Acinetobacter. J. Bacteriol. 180, 5058–5069.
Kok, R. G., Young, D. M., and Ornston, L. N. (1999) Phenotypic expression of PCR-generated random mutations in a Pseudomonas putida gene after its introduction into an Acinetobacter chromosome by natural transformation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65, 1675–1680.
Juni, E. (1974) Simple genetic transformation assay for rapid diagnosis of Moraxella osloensis. Appl. Microbiol. 27, 16–24.
Dieffenbach, C. W., Lowe, T. M., and Dveksler, G. S. (1993). General concepts for PCR primer design. PCR Methods Appl. 3, 30–37.
Robertson, J. M. and Walsh-Weller, J. (1998) An introduction to PCR design and optimization of amplification reactions. Methods Mol. Biol. 98, 121–154.
Costa, G. L., Grafsky, A., and Weiner, M. P. (1994) Cloning and analysis of PCR-generated DNA fragments. PCR Methods Appl. 3, 338–345.
Levis, R. (1995) Strategies for cloning PCR products, in PCR Primer-A Laboratory Manual (Dieffenbach, C. W. and Dveksler, G. S., eds.), CSHL Press, Long Island, NY, pp. 539–554.
Liu, Z. G. and Schwartz, L. M. (1992) An efficient method for blunt-end ligation of PCR products. Biotechniques 12, 28–30.
Tindall, K. R. and Kunkel, T. A. (1998) Fidelity of DNA synthesis by the Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase. Biochemistry 27, 6008–6013.
Cadwell, R. C. and Joyce, G. (1992) Randomization of genes by PCR mutagen-esis. PCR Methods. Appl. 2, 28–33.
Juni, E. and Janick, A. (1969) Transformation of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (Bacterium anitratum). J. Bacteriol. 98, 281–288.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Humana Press Inc.
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Young, D.M., Kok, R.G., Nicholas Ornston, L. (2002). Phenotypic Expression of Polymerase Chain Reaction-Generated Random Mutations in a Foreign Gene After its Introduction into an Acinetobacter Chromosome by Natural Transformation. In: Braman, J. (eds) In Vitro Mutagenesis Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 182. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-194-9:103
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-194-9:103
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-910-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-194-7
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols