Lecture 4

MICROBIAL GENETICS

NORBEL A. TABO, RM, SM

Learning Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Describe the flow of genetic information.

Discuss the requirements of replication, transcription and
translation.
Identify the mechanisms of mutation.
Compare and contrast the different types of recombination.
Identify the importance of genetic engineering.

Flow of Genetic Information

Figure 8.2

DNA REPLICATION

DNA
Polymer of nucleotides:
adenine, thymine,
cytosine, guanine
"Backbone" is
deoxyribose-phosphate
Strands held together by
hydrogen bonds
between AT and CG

Figure 8.4

REPLICATION OF
BACTERIAL DNA
CIRCULAR MOLECULE
DNA POLYMERASE enzyme that replicates
DNA

DNA Replication
DNA replication is semi-conservative (each DNA
molecule has one old strand and one new strand)

Replication Fork Animations

Figure 8.7

PROTEIN
SYNTHESIS

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
FLOW OF
INFORMATION
Proteins are
composed of amino
acids

Ribosomes
large

Ribosomes carry out

protein synthesis
small

Figure 8.2

Translation
mRNA is translated
in codons (3 mRNA
nucleotides)
Codons encode
for each amino acid
in a protein

Figure 8.2

Ribosomes
large

Ribosomes carry out

protein synthesis
small

Figure 8.2

Ribosomes
Peptide bond
formation

Ribosome moves
(left to right in
diagram)

Protein Synthesis Animations

Figure 8.2

MUTATION

Mutation
Change in the DNA
Mutations may cause changes in protein
structure/function
Spontaneous mutations: Occur in the absence
of a mutagen
Mutagen: Agent that causes mutations
Radiation (UV radiation)
Chemicals (carcinogens)
Addition and Dele
Viruses (retroviruses)
tion Mutations An
imations

Mutation

RECOMBINATION

RECOMBINATION
Genetic Recombination
Exchange of genes between two DNA
molecules to form new gene combinations

DONOR

RECIPIENT

Vertical gene transfer

Occurs during reproduction, between generations
of cells
Horizontal gene transfer
Transfer of genes between cells of the same
generation

Plasmids
Plasmids: self-replicating, gene-containing circular
pieces of non-chromosomal DNA
Often contribute to genetic recombination
Dissimilation plasmids: Encode enzymes for
catabolism of unusual compounds (Pseudomonas)
R (resistance) factors: Encode antibiotic
resistance in Gram-negative bacteria
Others plasmids contribute to the pathogenicity of
microbes (Ex. Streptococcus mutans: cause of
cavities).

Plasmids

Figure 8.29

Genetic Transfer and

Recombination

Examples of recombination:
1. TRANSFORMATION
2. CONJUGATION
3. TRANSDUCTION

TRANSFORMATION
DNA RELEASED WHEN DONOR CELL
DIES
DNA is taken up by adjacent cells
The ability to take up foreign DNA is
termed competence
Ex. Antibiotic resistance

TRANSFORMATION
The Gram-positive species that are able to
take up exogenous DNA include
Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus
subtilis.
Gram-negative bacteria that can be
transformed by exogenous DNA include
Neisseria meningitis, Neisseria gonorrhea,
Haemophilus influenzae, and Escherichia
coli.

CONJUGATION
Conjugation: transfer of a plasmid (F- factor)
DNA from one bacterium to another
Involves direct cell-to cell contact

CONJUGATION
Plasmid transfer in Gram-negative bacteria occurs
only between strains of the same species or
closely-related species.
Conjugation begins with the
extrusion of a sex pilus; the tip of
the sex pilus adheres to the outer
membrane of Gram-negative cell
walls.

CONJUGATION
Plasmid-mediated conjugation occurs in Bacillus
subtilis, some Streptococcus species, and
Enterococcus faecalis but is not found as
commonly in the Gram-positive bacteria.

Conjugation

Figure 8.27a

Conjugation

Figure 8.27b

TRANSDUCTION
VIRUS CARRIES DNA FROM ONE BACTERIA
TO ANOTHER

TRANSDUCTION
This can often lead to changes in microbial
pathogenicity
Botulism toxin of Clostridium botulinum
Capsule of Streptococcus pneumoniae
E. coli O157:H7 toxin (bloody diarrhea)

 In spontaneous DNA mutation, bacterial DNA

(genetic material) may mutate (change)
spontaneously. Drug-resistant tuberculosis
arises this way.
In transformation or conjugation, one
bacterium may take up DNA from another
bacterium. Pencillin-resistant gonorrhea results
from this process.
Resistance can be acquired from a small
circle of DNA (plasmid). In 1968, 12,500 people
in Guatemala died in an epidemic of Shigella
diarrhea. The microbe harbored a plasmid
carrying resistances to four antibiotics.