A Complete Set of Escherichia coli Open Reading Frames in Mobile Plasmids Facilitating Genetic Studies

摘要

To facilitate genetic studies of Escherichia coli, we constructed a complete set of mobile plasmid clones of intact open reading frames (ORFs). Their expression is strictly controlled by P_tac/lacIq. The plasmids carrying each ORF were introduced into an F+ recA strain and stored in 96-well microtiter plates. In this way, 96 clones can be transferred simultaneously to F_?bacteria using the conjugative system. This provides a convenient procedure for systematic identification of ORFs that suppress or complement mutations. We created two types of clone sets: the original set contained individual clones in 45 microtiter plates, and a second set contained pools of 48 clones stored in a single microtiter plate. Using these clone sets, we have identified 403 genes that can correct in trans the temperature-sensitive defect of cell division mutants, which would suggest multiple global regulators for bacterial cell division.