Figures & data
Figure 1 Schematic highlighting the differences between conjugative and mobilizable elements. In the former, both DNA processing as well as mating apparatus functions are encoded, whereas, in the latter, only DNA-processing functions are elaborated.
Figure 2 Schematic representing the major events occurring during conjugative DNA transfer. Cell membranes separating donor and recipient bacteria are depicted as solid black lines. The transferring element (plasmid-like in this example) is shown harboring an origin of conjugative transfer (oriT) as well as a mobilization (MOB) protein-encoding segment (Mob genes). As described in the text, a single-stranded DNA molecule is generated during the conjugation process, and translocated to the mating apparatus, of which one member is the coupling protein.
Table 1 Mobile genetic elements found in Bacteroides spp.
Table 2 Comparison of conjugation apparatus components of A. tumefacien, E. coli and Bacteroides spp. mating systems.