In-well cell lysis technique reveals two new megaplasmids of 103.0 and 212.6 MDa in the multiple plasmid-containing strain V517 of escherichia coli

Abstract

Aims: Identification of two new plasmids in the multiple plasmid-containing strain V517 of Escherichia coli. Method and Results: By using an in-well mild cell lysis technique suitable for megaplasmids observation, two plasmids of 103.0 and 212.6 MDa were detected in the multiplasmid-containing E. coli V517. Conclusions: The two new megaplasmids that were completely overlooked when standard disruptive procedures were used, can now be added to the list of eight plasmids with molecular size from 1.36 to 35.84 MDa reported earlier. Significance and Impact of the Study: This finding allows to use the strain V517 not only as a size reference of small and moderately large plasmids but as a size reference of megaplasmids as well.