Hiraga S, Ogura T, Mori H, Tanaka M
Basic Life Sci. 1985;30:469-87. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4613-2447-8_34.
The F plasmid has its own partition mechanism and ccd mechanism (coupled cell division), besides its own replication mechanism, in order to be stably inherited into daughter cells through cell division. These 3 mechanisms are independent of one another. Therefore, when a DNA segment essential and sufficient for a mechanism is jointed to other heterologous plasmids, the segment is also functional. Most of natural low copy number plasmids might also have their own replication, partition, and ccd mechanisms. These 3 mechanisms may be fundamental to ensure stable inheritance for low copy-number replicons in prokaryotes.
