Plasmids as secondary chromosomes

Rob Van Houdt, Max Mergeay

Research outputpeer-review

Abstract

Large replicons secondary to the main chromosome have been termed both 'second chromosomes' if they carry essential genes and are indispensable for cell viability, as well as 'megaplasmids' if they do not use chromosome-type but plasmid-type replication systems. Recently, the term "chromid" was introduced to distinguish this replicon as it is neither a chromosome nor a plasmid. Three criteria were defined: (i) chromids have plasmid-type maintenance and replication systems, (ii) chromids have a nucleotide composition close to that of the chromosome and (iii) chromids carry core genes that are found on the chromosome in other species (Harrison et al., 2010). Although this adds to the complexity of the nomenclature found in the literature, it reflects the necessity to clearly differentiate these types of replicons.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMolecular Life Sciences: An Encyclopedic Reference
Place of PublicationGermany
PublisherSpringer
Pages1-4
Volume12
Edition1
StatePublished - Oct 2012

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