Microbiology

BACTERIAL GENETICS
Dr. Bartolome | September 25, 2020 | Topic 5

Overview BACTERIAL DNA REPLICATION

I. Microbial Genome
II. Bacterial DNA Replication
III. Extrachromosomal Elements Ø Backbone: deoxyribose and
IV. Genetic Mutations phosphate
V. Genetic Exchange Among Bacteria Ø 4 heterocyclic bases: 2 purines (A,
G) and 2 pyrimidines (C,T)
Ø Base pairing: AT, GC
MICROBIAL GENOME Ø Double helix: 2 strands
complementary and of opposite
Eukaryotic Genome Prokaryotic Genome polarity
2 or more linear Single, double-stranded,
chromosomes circular DNA; single CENTRAL DOGMA OF MOLECULAR
origin of bidirectional BIOLOGY
replication DNA Replication à Transcription (RNA) à
Diploid Haploid Translation (Protein)
Possess a true Nucleoid (Not enclosed
nucleus enclosed by a by nuclear membrane) 1) Initiated at the origin (ori)
nuclear membrane 2) Semi-conservative
Structure maintained No histones à with 3) Bidirectional à begins at one point and
by histones spermine or spermidine moves in both direction; 5’à 3’
4) Enzymes
VIRAL GENOME a) Helicase: unwinds the DNA at the
Ø Obligate intracellular à dependent on origin
b) Primase: synthesize primers to start
metabolic energy and macromolecular
the process
synthetic machinery of host à lead to death
c) DNA polymerase: copy the DNA;
of host cell
with proofreading functions
Ø DNA or RNA only 

d) Topoisomerase (gyrase): relieves
torsional strain
BACTERIOPHAGE OR PHAGE e) DNA ligase
Ø Viruses associated with prokaryotes
Ø Largest of all viral groups Ø DNA polymerases incapable of
Ø Nucleic acid molecule surrounded by a starting a new DNA strand can only
protein coat
extend a previously existing molecule.
Ø Many with specialized syringe-like
Ø Each strand is started with a short
structures (tails) à bind to receptors on
RNA made by RNA primase 

the cell
Ø Leading strand: can be synthesized
Ø Distinguished on the basis of mode of
continuously in the 5’ to 3’ direction
propagation:
(DNA Polymerase III)
1) Lytic phage (Virulent phage)
Ø Lagging strand: made ‘backwards’
§ Produce many copies of
opposite direction to overall
themselves as they kill their
host cell replication, by making the 
new strand
§ E.g. T-even (T2, T4) phages of in short fragments (Okazaki
E. coli fragments)


2) Temperate phage (Lysogenic
phage) TRANSCRIPTION
§ Able to enter a non-lytic Ø First step in expressing a gene 

prophage state Ø mRNA: carries information for a
§ Nucleic acid replication linked to protein 

replication of host cell DNA Ø RNA transcripts copied only from
§ E.g. E. coli phage lambda selected regions of the DNA rather
than from whole molecule 

Ø RNA polymerase: starts making RNA

Irelia: The Blade Dancer 1

 Microbiology
BACTERIAL GENETICS
Dr. Bartolome | September 25, 2020 | Topic 5
chain at the promoter region 

Ø Transcription continues until it GENETIC MUTATIONS
encounters a transcription termination
signal in the DNA 
 TYPES OF MUTATION
1) Spontaneous: E.g. polymerase
TRANSLATION mistakes
Ø mRNA information translated or 2) Induced: caused by antigen
converted into protein 
 a) Physical agents (E.g. UVL, ionizing
Ø Each amino acid written as a set of radiation, heat)
three nucleotides (codon) 
 b) Chemical agents (nucleotide base
o 64 codon combinations encoding the analogues, nitrous acid, alkylating
20 amino acids + start & termination codon 
 agents)
Ø Occurs on the ribosome 

TRANSPOSONS
Ø Genetic elements containing several
EXTRACHROMOSOMAL ELEMENTS genes, including those necessary for
their migration 
from one genetic locus
PLASMIDS to another (insertion elements or
Ø Replicate independently of bacterial insertion sequences) create 
insertional
chromosome à replicon 
 mutations 

Ø Most are circular, double-stranded Ø Do not carry genetic information for their
EXCEPT Borrelia burgdorferi & Borrelia replication, not replicons 

hermsii 

Ø Some can integrate into the host
chromosome (episome)àE. coli F
plasmid

Table 2. General Properties of plasmids
Genome Double-stranded circular,
supercoiled DNA
Replication Contain genes for self-
replication (replicon)
Recombinations Some can integrate with host
chromosome (episome)
Relationship to Non-essential for cell survival
host
Transferability Some are self-transferable

FUNCTIONAL TYPES TYPES OF MUTATIONS

1) R plasmid (R-factor)
a) Resistance transfer factor (RTF):
carry genes for intercellular transfer
b) Resistant determinant: carry the
resistant genes for each of several
drugs

2) F plasmid (F-factor)
a) Fertility factor
b) A transfer factor à carry genes for
extrachromosomal existence, self-
transfer, and synthesis of sex pillus
à conjugation

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 Microbiology
BACTERIAL GENETICS
Dr. Bartolome | September 25, 2020 | Topic 5

TRANSFORMATION

1) Transformation
- First mechanism of genetic transfer
to be discovered 

- Incorporation of exogenous or
foreign DNA 

- Lysis of bacterial cell à DNA
released into the environment à
direct uptake of the 
naked DNA by
the recipient 

- Requirements: 

1. Related species 

2. Competence of recipient cells:
EFFECTS OF MUTATION capable of incorporating foreign DNA 

- H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae,
Single codon change
Neisseria sp. 

1) Missense mutation
2) Nonsense mutation Ø Gram-positive bacteria 

3) Silent mutation - No outer membrane
- dsDNA binds to the outer surface à
one trans is degraded, and the other
strand is transported through the
cell wall and membrane

Ø Gram-negative bacteria
- Naked dsDNA binds to outer cell
surface of the bacterium
- dsDNA moves across the outer
membrane and cell wall

- degradation of one of the DNA
strands

- translocation of the remaining single
strand of DNA into the cytoplasm of
the cell across 
the inner membrane

2) Conjugation
- Sex-like exchange 

- One-way transfer of DNA from a
donor (male) cell to a recipient
(female) cell via the sex 
pilus 

- Depends on the presence or
absence of a conjugative plasmid
(e.g. F plasmid of E. coli) 

- DNA transferred is single stranded;
Numerous bases involved or not multiples of unidirectional; starts from 5’ end
3 +
- Three forms of F: F , Hfr, F’ 

1) Frameshift mutation à (+) change in +
reading frame § F - with F plasmid

2) Null mutation: with extensive insertion, § Hfr – F plasmid incorporated
deletion, or gross rearrangement of into bacterial chromosome
chromosome à gene function § F’ – hybrid molecule
completely destroyed

Irelia: The Blade Dancer 3

 Microbiology
BACTERIAL GENETICS
Dr. Bartolome | September 25, 2020 | Topic 5
> Occurs due to endonuclease mistake à DNA
is cut in the vicinity of the insertion point of the
plasmid

3) Transduction
- Mediated by bacteriophages
- Types
a) Generalized transduction: random
packaging of bacterial host cell DNA
in phage capsid
b) Specialized transduction: when
prophage genome is excised, it
drags adjacent bacterial genes à
results in a hybrid phage-bacterial
genome 


REFERENCES
th
• Jawetz’ Medical Microbiology 28 Edition
• Dr. Bartolome’s PowerPoint presentation
• 2021 Transcript
• Beshywap Transcript

Irelia: The Blade Dancer 4