Differential Localization and Functional Specialization of parS Centromere-Like Sites in repABC Replicons of Alphaproteobacteria

Abstract

The repABC replication/partitioning loci are widespread in extrachromosomal replicons of Alphaproteobacteria . They are evolutionarily diverse, subject to multi-layer self-regulation, and are responsible for the maintenance of different types of replicons, such as plasmids (e.g., Agrobacterium pTi and pRi tumorigenic and rhizogenic plasmids), megaplasmids (e.g., Sinorhizobium pSymA and pSymB) and essential chromids (e.g., secondary chromosomes of Agrobacterium , Brucella and Rhodobacter ).