A plasmid is a small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule that is distinct from a cell's chromosomal DNA. Plasmids naturally exist in bacterial cells, and they also occur in some eukaryotes.

Fu and colleagues used Vibrio cholerae bacteria as a model for studying the plasmid defense system known as DdmDE, consisting of proteins called DdmD and DdmE, using cryo-electron microscopy to ...

Together this complex shuts off gene expression to keep the plasmid safe within its bacterial host. This newly discovered mechanism offers a fresh insight into long-range gene silencing in bacteria.

Together, this complex shuts off gene expression to keep the plasmid safe within its bacterial host. This newly discovered mechanism offers a fresh insight into long-range gene silencing in bacteria.

As part of the natural exchange, plasmids often provide recipient bacteria with genetic advantages. For example, many antibiotic-resistance genes spread through plasmid transfer between bacteria.

1 To explore this question, I transformed mutated EF-hand sequences into bacteria using plasmids to obtain larger plasmid amounts for my protein expression experiments. One day, I was getting ready to ...