Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39652596›Full record

ArticlePLoS genetics2024

Transcription termination and antitermination are critical for the fitness and function of the integrative and conjugative element Tn916.

Erika S Wirachman, Alan D Grossman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS genetics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Erika S WirachmanDepartment of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0001-8617-1414
Alan D GrossmanDepartment of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0002-8235-7227

Funding

Mechanisms and regulation of replication, the cell cycle, gene expression, and horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes, focusing on Bacillus subtilisR35GM122538 · NIGMS · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · PI GROSSMAN, ALAN D · 2017 to 2021
$3.2M
Mechanisms and regulation of replication, the cell cycle, gene expression, and horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes, focusing on Bacillus subtilis.R35GM148343 · NIGMS · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · PI ALAN D GROSSMAN · 2023 to 2026
$3.1M
NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM122538NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM148343
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Premature expression of genes in mobile genetic elements can be detrimental to their bacterial hosts. Tn916, the founding member of a large family of integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs; aka conjugative transposons), confers tetracycline-resistance and is found in several Gram-positive bacterial species. We identified a transcription terminator near one end of Tn916 that functions as an insulator that prevents expression of element genes when Tn916 is integrated downstream from an active host promoter. The terminator blocked expression of Tn916 genes needed for unwinding and rolling circle replication of the element DNA, and loss of the terminator caused a fitness defect for the host cells. Further, we identified an element-encoded antiterminator (named canT for conjugation-associated antitermination) that is essential for transcription of Tn916 genes after excision of the element from the host chromosome. We found that the antiterminator is orientation-specific, functions with heterologous promoters and terminators, is processive and is most likely a cis-acting RNA. Insulating gene expression in conjugative elements that are integrated in the chromosome is likely a key feature of the interplay between mobile genetic elements and their hosts and appears to be critical for the function and evolution of the large family of Tn916-like elements.

Indexed as

Conjugation, GeneticDNA Transposable ElementsPromoter Regions, GeneticEscherichia coliGene Expression Regulation, BacterialTerminator Regions, GeneticTranscription, GeneticTranscription Termination, GeneticDNA Transposable Elements

Identifiers

PMID39652596
PMCPMC11658703

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.