Physical and genetic mapping of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 genome: genome size, fragment identification, and gene localization

Abstract

Four restriction endonucleases, AseI (5'-ATTAAT), SpeI (5'-ACTAGT), DraI (5'-TTTAAA), and SnaBI (5'-TACGTA), generated DNA fragments of suitable size distributions for mapping the genome of Rhodobacter sphaeroides by transverse alternating field electrophoresis. AseI produced 17 fragments, ranging in size from 3 to 1,105 kilobases (kb), SpeI yielded 16 fragments (12 to 1,645 kb), DraI yielded at least 25 fragments (6 to 800 kb), and SnaBI generated 10 fragments (12 to 1,225 kb). A total genome size of approximately 4,400 +/- 112 kb was determined by summing the fragment lengths in each of the digests generated by using the different restriction endonucleases. The total genomic DNA consisted of chromosomal DNA (3,960 +/- 112 kb) and the five endogenous plasmids (approximately 450 kb total) whose cognate DNA fragments have been unambiguously identified. A number of genes have been physically mapped to the AseI-generated restriction endonuclease fragments of total genomic DNA by Southern hybridization analysis with either homologous or heterologous specific gene probes or, in the case of several auxotrophic and pigment-biosynthetic mutants apparently generated by Tn5, a Tn5-specific probe. Other genes have been mapped by a comparison with wild-type patterns of the electrophoretic banding patterns of the AseI-digested genomic DNA derived from mutants generated by the insertion of either kanamycin or spectinomycin-streptomycin resistance cartridges. The relative orientations, distance, and location of the pufBALMX, puhA, cycA, and pucBA operons have also been determined, as have been the relative orientations between prkB and hemT and between prkA and the fbc operon.