Functional activity of transposase of Bordetella pertussis IS element in Escherichia coli cells

An Escherichia coli strain producing transposase of a repeated sequence of Bordetella pertussis chromosome (RSBP) was constructed. A defective MGE-helper plasmid method, which allowed the determination of transposase functional activity was developed. It was shown that transposase synthesized in E. coli cells ensures transposition of 'defective' RSBP into the host chromosome. Overexpression of transposase was shown to markedly decrease the vital activity of E. coli cells under selective cultivation conditions. Reasons for a decrease in viability transposase-producing cells are discussed. Results showing the impact of transposase on replication of recombinant plasmids and E. coli cell division were obtained.