What is the F factor in biology?
What is the F factor in biology?
The donor bacterium carries a DNA sequence called the fertility factor, or F-factor. The F-factor allows the donor to produce a thin, tubelike structure called a pilus, which the donor uses to contact the recipient.
What is f prime biology?
F'(prime) factor A fertility factor into which a portion of the bacterial chromosome has been incorporated. Tags: Molecular Biology.
What is an F plasmid in biology?
coli or the F sex factor; also called F-plasmid) allows genes to be transferred from one bacterium carrying the factor to another bacterium lacking the factor by conjugation. The F plasmid belongs to a class of conjugative plasmids that control sexual functions of bacteria with a fertility inhibition (Fin) system.
How did the F factor originally integrate into the bacterial chromosome?
Originally, this was done by isolation of F′ plasmids: F factors that have incorporated often large segments of DNA from the bacterial chromosome by homologous recombination with the chromosome. Formation of F′ plasmids is described (below) in “Importance of the F Factor in Bacterial Genetics” (see Figure 2).
Where is the F factor in bacteria?
The F plasmid is an example of a large plasmid, which contains genes that allow the plasmids DNA to be transferred between cells. It is found in the bacterium E. coli; E. coli containing this F factor are known as F+ and those without are known as F-.
What is F+ F and Hfr?
The bacterium is F+, and is the donor. When the F factor is integrated into the bacterial chromosome, it can still act as the donor in a conjugation cross. These integrated strains are called Hfr, because of the high frequency of recombination that occurs when mated with F- bacteria.
What is F factor DNA?
Definition. A DNA sequence or plasmid that confers certain bacteria the ability to produce a sex pilus for conjugation with other bacteria. Supplement. The F-factor is episomal.
What are F strains?
Fertility factor coding genes are essential for transfer or conjugation. Bacterial strains which receive F plasmids from F+ strains are known as F- strains or recipient strains or females. F+ strains can donate their genetic material or extrachromosomal DNA to another bacterium.
What is the enzyme that nicks the F factor at oriT to initiate transfer and what is the nucleotide sequence that it cuts?
DNA relaxase
Bacterial conjugation usually requires a DNA relaxase that nicks an origin of transfer (oriT) on the conjugative element and initiates the 5′-to-3′ transfer of one strand of the element into recipient cells.
Can f become Hfr?
Since no homologous recombination occurred, the DNA that was transferred is degraded by enzymes. In very rare cases, the F factor will be completely transferred and the F- cell will become an Hfr cell.
