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Directive segregation is the basis of ColE1 plasmid incompatibility

Abstract

Incompatibility between ColE1 plasmids in Escherichia coli can be explained by competition for a limited number of replication sites. These sites ensure directive segregation of plasmids to daughter cells on cell division. The number of sites can be more than one only if a linear segregation mechanism is postulated.

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Bedbrook, J., Lehrach, H. & Ausubel, F. Directive segregation is the basis of ColE1 plasmid incompatibility. Nature 281, 447–452 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/281447a0

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