Synthesis of linear multimers of OriC and pBR322 derivatives in Escherichia coli K-12: role of recombination and replication functions.

Inactivation of RecBCD nuclease (exonuclease V) and SbcB nuclease (exonuclease I) in Escherichia coli K-12 diverts most of plasmid replication activity from circular monomer production to the synthesis of linear multimers. Linear multimer synthesis has been demonstrated in plasmids of diverse origins and copy numbers, including E. coli minichromosomes. The effect of dnaA, dnaB, recF, and recJ mutations on the rate of linear multimer synthesis in sbcB cells after gam inactivation of RecBCD nuclease was investigated. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that homologous recombination, but not activities at the plasmid origin of replication, is involved in initiation of linear multimer synthesis.