Requirement of a plasmid-encoded protein for replication in vitro of plasmid R6K.

Conditions are described for the replication of exogeneous R6K DNA in an in vitro system prepared from Escherichia coli cells. Replication of plasmid DNA in this system is semiconservative and sensitive to actinomycin D, novobiocin, arabinofuranosyl-CTP,N-ethylmaleimide, and inhibitors of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. An ammonium sulfate fraction prepared from cells carrying the R6K plasmid is required for replication. A direct role in replication for a plasmid-encoded protein, designated pi, in this fraction is indicated by the inactivity of this fraction when prepared from cells carrying a temperature-sensitive mutant plasmid and the thermolability of this fraction when prepared from cells carrying a partial revertant of the mutant plasmid. This plasmid-encoded protein is necessary for the initiation of R6K DNA replication and functions before or during the formation of nascent RNA in the initiation process. The results of titration assays of this protein using various template DNAs suggest that the protein interacts with the plasmid DNA at the region essential for DNA replication.