ASSIGNMENT OF TRA CISTRONS TO ECORI FRAGMENTS OF F-SEX FACTOR DNA

The cloning of single EcoRI fragments from the tra region of F DNA using ColE1::Tn3 as vector is described. These plasmids, and the series of Skurray et al. [from Escherichia coli] were used to refine the map positions of tra cistrons on the F factor and to define a new DNA transfer cistron, traM. The current map of the tra cistrons is presented. None of the known tra cistrons, with the exception of traG, straddles an EcoRI site. The EcoRI site at 82 kilobases splits the traG cistron into 2 portions, an operator-proximal portion necessary for F pilus synthesis and an operator distal portion involved in conjugation itself. The operon structure of the tra cistrons was reevaluated, and traI is at least partially independent of transcription of the traA to traD operon.