RecA-independent recombination between direct repeats of IS50.

Recombination between the IS50 sequences that flank Tn5 has been found to occur readily after the transformation of E. coli recA strains with a plasmid that contains direct repeats of these sequences. Analysis of mutants of IS50 indicates that the polypeptide encoded by IS50 that is required for transposition is also required for the recombination.

Role of short regions of homology in intermolecular illegitimate recombination events.

The structures of three recombinants between bacteriophage lambda DNA and plasmid pBR322 that were generated in a recA derivative of Escherichia coli are described. Each resulted from two illegitimate recombination events that resulted in the substitution of part of the lambda genome by part of the plasmid genome. The nucleotide sequences at the six lambda-plasmid junctions were determined and compared with the sequences of the lambda and plasmid genomes before recombination.

Nucleotide sequence analysis of in vivo recombinants between bacteriophage lambda DNA and pBR322.

The nucleotide sequences involved in the illegitimate recombination of four recombinants between bacteriophage lambda DNA and pBR322 in E. coli (lambda TA6, lambda KA3, lambda TA1R, and lambda KA7) were determined. Each resulted from recombination between regions of homology of 10 to 13 base pairs.