A genetic system for Archaea of the genus Methanosarcina: Liposome-mediated transformation and construction of shuttle vectors

William W. Metcalf, Jun Kai Zhang, Ethel Apolinario, Kevin R. Sowers, Ralph S. Wolfe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

New methods that allow, for the first time, genetic analysis in Archaea of the genus Methanosarcina are presented. First, several autonomously replicating plasmid shuttle vectors have been constructed based on the naturally occurring plasmid pC2A from Methanosarcina acetivorans. These vectors replicate in 9 of 11 Methanosarcina strains tested and in Escherichia coli. Second, a highly efficient transformation system based upon introduction of DNA by liposomes has been developed. This method allows transformation frequencies of as high as 2 x 108 transformants per microgram of DNA per 109 cells or ≈20% of the recipient population. During the course of this work, the complete 5467-bp DNA sequence of pC2A was determined. The implications of these findings for the future of methanoarchaeal research are also discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2626-2631
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume94
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 18 1997

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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