CeBiTec Colloquium: Prof. Dr. Jan Roelof van der Meer, Université de Lausanne

2008/01/07 5:15 p.m.
CeBiTec Laboratory Building, Room G2-104

Stochastic gene expression in the transfer of the clc genomic island of Pseudomonas

Abstract: Genomic islands are a relatively recently recognized class of mobile DNA elements which normally reside in the chromosome of the host bacterium but under certain circumstances excise and transfer to a new recipient. In this lecture, I will explain the specific features of the clc element, a mobile genomic island found in pseudomonads, which infers on its carrier the capacity to use chlorinated aromatics and aminophenol as sole carbon and energy substrates. In particular, the talk will focus on the life-style and decision schemes of the clc element which govern its activity, and control why only a few cells in a population actually become prone to excision and transfer.