pUB6060: A broad-host-range, DNA polymerase-I-independent ColE2-like plasmid

A ColE2-like, cryptic plasmid, pUB6060, of 5.8 kb has been found in a clini cal isolate of Plesiomonas shigelloides. The complete sequence of pUB6060 h as been determined and reveals a number of interesting features about the p lasmid. The ColE2-like replication locus is linked to a functional ColE1-li ke mobilization locus. Replication is, unusually for ColE2 replicons, DNA p olymerase-I-independent and may involve two. rather than the usual one, pla smid-encoded functions. Additionally, it carries two ORFs encoding products of unknown function. The pU86060 replicon maintains a moderate plasmid cop y number (10 per chromosome copy) and permits replication in diverse gram-n egative bacteria. (C) 2001 Academic Press.