Fig. 1: Schematic representation of the current integron model and pMBA-ARC vector.
From: The expression of integron arrays is shaped by the translation rate of cassettes
a When expressed, the integrase (encoded by the intI gene) is able to integrate, excise and re-shuffle discrete elements called cassettes. These are composed of a gene and an attC recombination site, and are arranged in arrays that contain multiple cassettes. Cassettes are generally promoterless but can be expressed when integrated at the attI site, where their expression is controlled by the integron-borne Pc promoter. An expression gradient is then generated: the first cassette displays the highest expression while expression gradually decreases for cassettes further away in the array. b 136 different antibiotic resistance cassettes (ARCs) were individually cloned in first position in pMBA vector22,23, allowing to study how each ARC affects the expression gradient.
