Phagemid
Phagemid
Phagemid (pronunciation: /ˈfājəˌmid/), also known as phasmid or phage vector, is a type of plasmid that contains an F factor (fertility factor) and a bacteriophage origin of replication. The term "phagemid" is a portmanteau of "phage" and "plasmid".
Etymology
The term "phagemid" is derived from the words "bacteriophage" and "plasmid". A bacteriophage is a type of virus that infects bacteria, while a plasmid is a small, circular piece of DNA that is separate from the chromosomal DNA in bacteria.
Function
Phagemids are used in molecular biology for many purposes, including the production of large amounts of a specific protein, the creation of cDNA libraries, and the study of protein-protein interactions. They are particularly useful because they can replicate as plasmids in the absence of a helper phage, but can also be packaged into phage particles in the presence of a helper phage. This allows for the amplification of the phagemid and the protein it encodes.
Related Terms
- Plasmid: A small, circular piece of DNA that is separate from the chromosomal DNA in bacteria.
- Bacteriophage: A type of virus that infects bacteria.
- F factor: A fertility factor in bacteria that allows them to transfer DNA to other bacteria during conjugation.
- cDNA libraries: Collections of cDNA (complementary DNA) clones that are used to study gene expression.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Phagemid
- Wikipedia's article - Phagemid
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