A potential new gene (tccA) on IncP plasmid RK2 and transposon Tn1721: relationship of its product to the TrwC relaxase/helicase of IncW plasmid R388

Abstract

Computational analysis of the fully sequenced 60-kb genome of broad-host-range IncP alpha plasmid RK2 revealed a previously unreported potential protein-coding sequence, an 80-codon open reading frame (tccA), located in the region between the vegetative origin of replication (oriV) and the tetR gene of the tetracycline resistance determinant. The coding region is also present in the transposon Tn1721 tet region, which is nearly identical to the tet region of RK2. Remarkably, the predicted polypeptide product of the coding region displays 56% identity and 72% similarity with the C-terminal domain of the TrwC relaxase/helicase protein of IncW plasmid R388.