Impact of catabolic plasmids on host cell physiology.

Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan. anojiri@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Current opinion in biotechnology 2013 Jun

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It is difficult to know the exact extent to which catabolic plasmids influence the metabolism of different hosts, but this information is crucial for improving the use of xenobiotic degraders possessing conjugative catabolic plasmids. To determine the molecular mechanisms by which catabolic plasmids affect host-cell physiology and host responses, comprehensive molecular surveys have examined host responses to plasmid carriage. These studies have clarified the various interactions between catabolic plasmids and host cells and the importance of the effects on host-cell physiology and metabolic pathways. It has been suggested that catabolic plasmid-borne nucleoid-associated proteins play key roles in the adaptation of catabolic plasmids to the host-cell regulatory network. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.