Bacterial Interspersed Mosaic Elements (BIMEs) Are a Major Source of Sequence Polymorphism in Escherichia coli Intergenic Regions Including Specific Associations With a New Insertion Sequence

• DOI: 10.1093/genetics/145.3.551
• Publication Date: 2021-01-13T22:23:19Z
• Authors: Sophie Bachellier; Jean-Marie Clément; Maurice Hofnung; Eric Gilson
• Keywords: Intergenic region; Insertion sequence; Repeated sequence; Sequence (biology)

A significant fraction of Escherichia coli intergenic DNA sequences is composed two families repeated bacterial interspersed mosaic elements (BIME-1 and BIME-2). In this study, we determined the sequence organization six regions in 51 E. Shigella natural isolates. Each region contains a BIME K-12. We found that multiple variations are located within or near these BIMEs different bacteria. Events included excisions whole BIME-1, expansion/deletion BIME-2 insertions non-BIME like boxC repeat new IS element, named 1397. Remarkably, 14 out 1397 integration sites correspond to sequence, strongly suggesting element specifically associated with BIMEs, thus inserts only extragenic regions. Unlike not detected all Possible relationships between presence evolution discussed.