F plasmids

in progress!

F plasmid derived replication origins
There are at least 3 kinds of replication origins that are derived from the F factor of Escherichia coli.

mini-F

 * includes oriS and repE
 * ~1.6 kb
 * used in pSCANS (genbank vector info cookbook) or pSB2K3-P1010 series plasmids
 * at copy number 4-6?

F plasmid derived origin used in most BACs

 * includes oriS, repE and the par genes
 * ~4.6 kb
 * used in pBeloBAC11 and other BACs
 * at copy number 4-6

"complete" F origin

 * includes repC, oriV, ccd operon, repD, oriS, repE and the par genes
 * ~9kb
 * used by Kris Prather in her F plasmids that she built when in Jay Keasling's lab Jones-BiotechnolBioeng-1998
 * at copy number 1-2

Nomenclature

 * Episome: A circular piece of DNA that can replicate independently of the bacterial chromosome or integrate and replicate as part of the chromosome.
 * F factor: An episome in bacterial cells that confers the ability to act as a genetic donor during conjugation.
 * F+ cell: A bacterial cell possessing the fertility factor. Acts as a donor in conjugation.
 * F- cell: A bacterial cell that does not contain a fertility factor. Acts as a recipient in conjugation.
 * F' cell: A bacterial cell in which an integrated fertility factor spontaneously excises itself, taking part of the chromosome with it. The resulting episome therefore contains chromosomal material.
 * Hfr cell: A strain of bacteria exhibiting a high frequency of recombination, due to a chromosomally-integrated fertility factor. This strain is able to transfer all or part of the chromosome to recipient strains.

From GeneticsGlossary.

Mating types

 * F+ mating with F- produces 2 F+
 * Hfr mating with F- produces Hfr and F-
 * F' mating with F- produces F' and F' merozygote

From GeneticsGlossary.