MOLECULAR
MECHANISM OF
RECOMBINATION
INTRODUCTION
Gene is a polynucleotide chain that can control a
specific trait
Can be unit of function- cistron
Unit of mutation-mutan
B+
V
B-
A-
or
1. Horizontally H
2. Vertically V
A+ B- A+ B+
A- B+ A- B-
recombination
Homologous recombination is to ensure that the
genome of organism is nearly identical from
generation to generation
some recombinations alter the relative position of
nucleotide sequence in chromosome- site specific
recombination
It can be of 2 types
Conservative site specific recombination (CSSR)
i. Insertion
ii. Deletion
iii. Inversion
Prophage in lysogeny
Independent in lytic
Transition between the two involve site specific recombination
Because integrase remained bound
with DNA just like topoisomerase, the
action of lambda integrase does not
require ATP.
excisionase
Application of CSSR
To delete unwanted transgenes like markers
To activate transgene expression/ to switch between alternate
transgenes
To fascilitate precise transgene integration
Chromosome engineering
Transpositional recombination
Does not produce heteroduplex
Require no specific sequence
Mobile genes are involved
Jumping genes
Can move from 1 position to another on same or different
chromosome
Transposible elements encode integrase enzyme
These enzymes will recognize specific DNA
Steps:
Integrase makes a cut at 1 strand at each end of DNA-results in 3
OH
These OH groups will invade phospho diester bond on opposite
strands of randomly selectd site on target chromosome
DNA sequences insert to target and a short gap will be left
Another repair process will occur to fill the gap and complete the
process
Process result in short repeats of sequences( hall mark of TSSR)