PROTEIN TRANSFER INTO THE RECIPIENT CELL DURING BACTERIAL CONJUGATION - STUDIES WITH F AND RP4

Transfer of donor cell proteins to the recipient bacterium was examined in F‐ and RP4‐mediated conjugation. Transfer of a 120kD polypeptide, identified as the larger product of the plasmid DNA primase gene, was readily detected during RP4‐promoted conjugation. The protein was transmitted to the cytoplasm of the recipient, presumably complexed to the transferred ssDNA. F DNA was transferred without detectable association with any cytoplasmic tra protein or with the ssDNA‐binding protein encoded by the plasmid. However, a 92kD protein, possibly F TraD product, was transmitted to the membrane fraction of the recipient cell. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved