Identification and characterization of a defective SSV1 genome integrated into a tRNA gene in the archaebacterium Sulfolobus sp. B12.

Within the chromosome of the archaebacterium Sulfolobus sp. B12, a 7.4 kb region was identified which displayed extensive sequence similarities to the 15.5 kb genetic element SSV1 carried by the same strain both as a circular form and as a site-specifically integrated copy. DNA sequence analysis indicated that this 7.4 kb region (designated SSV1intB) represented an SSV1-like element distinguishable from the full-length integrated copy (designated SSV1intA) by extensive deletions and point mutations. The physical organization of DNA sequences of SSV1intB indicated that this element was integrated at the same attP site as previously identified for SSV1intA. A comparison of the DNA sequences at the left attachment sites of SSV1intA and SSV1intB revealed that they both represented very similar putative arginine tRNA genes followed by a 10 bp inverted repeat sequence. S1 nuclease mapping experiments indicated that these tRNA genes are transcribed.