Editing Plasmid (section)

=== Biosynthetic Gene Cluster (BGC) ===
Plasmids assist in transporting [[biosynthetic gene cluster]]s - a set of gene that contain all the necessary enzymes that lead to the production of special metabolites (formally known as [[secondary metabolite]]).<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hemmerling F, Piel J | title = Strategies to access biosynthetic novelty in bacterial genomes for drug discovery | journal = Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery | volume = 21 | issue = 5 | pages = 359–378 | date = May 2022 | pmid = 35296832 | doi = 10.1038/s41573-022-00414-6 }}</ref> A benefit of using plasmids to transfer BGC is demonstrated by using a suitable host that can mass produce specialized metabolites, some of these molecules are able to control microbial population.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Davies J | title = Specialized microbial metabolites: functions and origins | journal = The Journal of Antibiotics | volume = 66 | issue = 7 | pages = 361–364 | date = July 2013 | pmid = 23756686 | doi = 10.1038/ja.2013.61 }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Plasmids can contain and express several BGCs with a few plasmids known to be exclusive for transferring BGCs.<ref name=":2">{{cite journal | vauthors = Saati-Santamaría Z | title = Global Map of Specialized Metabolites Encoded in Prokaryotic Plasmids | journal = Microbiology Spectrum | volume = 11 | issue = 4 | pages = e0152323 | date = August 2023 | pmid = 37310275 | pmc = 10434180 | doi = 10.1128/spectrum.01523-23 | editor-first = Olaya | editor-last = Rendueles }}</ref> BGC's can also be transfers to the host organism's chromosome, utilizing a plasmid vector, which allows for studies in gene knockout experiments.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Okino N, Li M, Qu Q, Nakagawa T, Hayashi Y, Matsumoto M, Ishibashi Y, Ito M | title = Two bacterial glycosphingolipid synthases responsible for the synthesis of glucuronosylceramide and α-galactosylceramide | journal = The Journal of Biological Chemistry | volume = 295 | issue = 31 | pages = 10709–10725 | date = July 2020 | pmid = 32518167 | pmc = 7397116 | doi = 10.1074/jbc.RA120.013796 | doi-access = free }}</ref> By using plasmids for the uptake of BGCs, microorganisms can gain an advantage as production is not limited to antibiotic resistant biosynthesis genes but the production of [[toxin]]s/antitoxins.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Mara P, Geller-McGrath D, Suter E, Taylor GT, Pachiadaki MG, Edgcomb VP | title = Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters within a Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column | journal = Microorganisms | volume = 12 | issue = 5 | pages = 929 | date = May 2024 | pmid = 38792759 | pmc = 11123730 | doi = 10.3390/microorganisms12050929 | doi-access = free }}</ref>