Structural studies of the [beta]-lactamase-producing plasmids of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae.

Abstract

The $\beta$-lactamase producing plasmids of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pJD4 (Asia-type plasmid), pJD5 (Africa-type plasmid), pJD7 (Toronto-type plasmid), pGO4717 (Rio-type plasmid) and pGF1 (Nimes plasmid) are structurally related. The primary sequence of pJD4, the primary sequence around the deletion of pJD5, pJD7 and the Rio plasmid, and the insertion of pGF1 were determined using the dideoxy termination method. This is the first report which identified the exact size and location of deletion of the $\beta$-lactamase plasmids of N. gonorrhoeae based on DNA sequence analyses. The primary sequence of pJD4 was used as reference for all other plasmids. Coordinates were numbered from the PstI site. In addition, regions around the deletion of four other Toronto-type plasmids pGC1213, pGC4538, pGC5221, pGC5228, were also sequenced. Based on the DNA sequence of pJD4, a comprehensive restriction endonuclease map ot PJD4 was constructed and compared to previously published maps. Analysis of the primary sequence of pJD4 including the region homologous to TnA shows at least 62 direct repeats (DR) and 24 inverted repeats greater or equal to 10 base pairs (bp) in length. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)