The ABCs of plasmid replication and segregation

RepABC family plasmids are found exclusively in alphaproteobacteria. The replication and partitioning proteins of these plasmids are encoded by a single operon, the repABC cassette. Here, Pinto, Pappas and Winans review the regulation of RepABC plasmid replication and partitioning, including the mechanisms that allow plasmid copynumber to be increased in response to external cues.