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Plasmids
Plasmids
RB Shahi
Capable of autonomous replication
i.e. self- replicating
Super Coiled
2) "Relaxed Circular" DNA is fully intact, but "relaxed"
(supercoils removed). SC
Linear
Relaxed Circular
Supercoiled Denatured
Supercoiled (fastest)
Classification of Plasmids
• Based upon the number of copies per cell, plasmids are
classified into two types.
– Stringent plasmids
– Relaxed plasmids
• Based upon plasmid incompatibility: inability of two
different plasmids to co exist in the same cell in the
absence of selection pressure
– Compatible
– Incompatible
• Based upon the ability to take part in conjugation,
plasmids are of two types.
– Conjugative
– non conjugative
• Host Range
– Broad spectrum
– Narrow spectrum
• Phenotypic effects
– Fertility
– Bacteriocinogenic plasmid
– Resistance plasmid (R factors)
– Etc.
Stringent plasmids
• These plasmids exist in small numbers, i.e.
<100 copies/cell (limited number of copies
per cell)
• Under the control of bacterial genome for
replication and segregation
• Generally, conjunctive plasmids are mostly
stringent plasmids.
Relaxed plasmids
• These plasmids exist in large numbers, i.e.,
> 100 copies/cell.(multiple copies per Cell)
• not under the control of bacterial genome
for replication and segregation
• Generally they are of low molecular weight
• most of them are of the non conjugative
type.
Compatible