Conjugation Intermittent

Conjugation is the process of transferring genetic information between bacteria. It is carried out by the formation of a special connection between two cells, which is called a plasmid. Plasmids may contain genes that are responsible for antibiotic resistance or other beneficial properties. However, in order to convey this information, it is necessary that recipient cells can successfully conjugate with donor cells.

Discontinuous conjugation is a method for mapping bacterial chromosomes. It is based on artificially interrupting the conjugation process. This method allows you to determine the location of genes on the chromosome, as well as their functions.

To carry out discontinuous conjugation, a bacterial strain is used that contains a plasmid with an antibiotic resistance gene. This gene is located at a specific point on the chromosome. Then conjugation occurs between donor cells and recipient cells. If the resistance gene is located at the point where conjugation occurs, then the recipient cells cannot conjugate with the donor cells, and the conjugation process is interrupted.

Thus, conjugation discontinuity allows one to determine the exact location of genes on the chromosome. This can be useful in studying genetic diseases, as well as in creating new strains of bacteria with certain properties.

Continuously linking bacterial genome rings, as happens in the classical conjugation system, is difficult and requires a number of molecules of DNA-influencing agents (inducers). To avoid this, researchers could directly shorten the conjugation encounter process throughout the time course by using enzyme inhibitors such as protein materials or alternative inhibitory drugs. This option is known as “breakthrough conjugation” and aims to reduce the time and amount of DNA materials required for bacteria to bind. This was achieved by providing the resulting analog P-