IS-TARGETING SYSTEM FOR GENE INSERTION AND GENETIC ENGINEERING IN DEINOCOCCUS BACTERIA

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for chromosome integration of nucleic acids into Deinococcus bacteria. The invention more particularly relates to IS-mediated multicopy gene insertion or chromosome engineering in Deinococcus bacteria, the resulting bacteria, and the uses thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/039,867, filed May 27, 2016, which is the U.S. national stage application of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2014/078858, filed Dec. 19, 2014.

[0002] The Sequence Listing for this application is labeled "Seq-List.txt" which was created on Jan. 23, 2015 and is 18 KB. The entire content of the sequence listing is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0003] The present invention relates to methods and compositions for chromosome integration of nucleic acids into Deinococcus bacteria. The invention more particularly relates to IS-mediated multicopy gene insertion or IS targeting methods for chromosome engineering in Deinococcus bacteria, the resulting bacteria, and the uses thereof.

INTRODUCTION

[0004] Deinococcus is a gram positive bacterium that was isolated in 1956 by Anderson and collaborators. This extremophile organism is resistant to DNA damage by UV and ionizing radiations or by cross-linking agent (mitomycin C) and is tolerant of desiccation. WO01/023526 shows the unusual resistance of Deinococcus to radiation and further proposes their engineering and use in bioremediation. WO2009/063079 shows that Deinococcus bacteria can resist solvents and transform biomass to generate biofuels. WO2010/130806 further discloses recombinant Deinococcus strains wherein ethanol biosynthesis genes have been inserted. These recombinant strains exhibit improved performance in the production of ethanol.

[0005] The present invention discloses novel compositions and methods for genetically modifying Deinococcus bacteria. More specifically, the invention provides improved Insertion Sequence-based methods for genetically modifying Deinococcus bacteria.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention relates to methods and constructs for gene recombination or chromosome engineering in Deinococcus bacteria. More specifically, the invention relates to IS-based methods and constructs for gene insertion or amplification in Deinococcus bacteria, or IS-mediated genetic modification of Deinococcus bacteria.

[0007] An object of the invention therefore relates to a method for introducing a nucleic acid into the genome of a Deinococcus bacterium, comprising introducing said nucleic acid into said genome by IS-mediated insertion. In preferred embodiments, the nucleic acid is introduced into the genome of the bacterium by homologous recombination with an IS present in the genome, by intron-mediated insertion into an IS, or by IS-mediated transposition.

[0008] A further object of the invention resides in a method for producing a recombinant Deinococcus bacterium comprising one or several copies of a gene of interest inserted into its genome, the method comprising introducing said gene of interest into the genome of said bacterium by IS-mediated insertion and, optionally, amplifying the copy number by subjecting said bacterium or a descendant thereof to a gene amplification treatment.

[0009] The invention also relates to a method for inducing (or increasing) chromosomal rearrangement(s) or shuffling in a Deinococcus bacterium, the method comprising expressing (or increasing expression of) at least a transposase gene in said bacterium.

[0010] The invention also relates to a Deinococcus bacterium obtained by IS-mediated insertion of a nucleic acid, or a descendant of said bacterium.

[0011] Another object of the invention is a Deinococcus bacterium comprising one or several copies of a nucleic acid inserted into an IS element.

[0012] A further object of the invention resides in a nucleic acid molecule comprising a gene of interest flanked, on one or both sides, by (i) a sequence homologous to a sequence of Deinococcus IS element or (ii) a sequence of an inverted repeat sequence of Deinococcus IS element.

[0013] The invention also relates to a recombinant Deinococcus bacterium comprising one or several copies of a transposase gene under control of a promoter.

[0014] The invention may be performed with any Deinococcus bacteria and can be used to engineer bacteria with improved genotypes or phenotypes, particularly bacteria which express recombinant genes of interest.

LEGEND TO THE FIGURES

[0015] FIG. 1: Gene insertion by IS-mediated homologous recombination in Deinococcus.

[0016] FIG. 2: Insertion of ethanol pathway DNA construct into IS66 of D. geothermalis.

[0017] FIG. 3: Gene insertion by IS-mediated artificial transposition in Deinococcus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The invention relates to IS-mediated gene insertion or chromosome engineering in Deinococcus bacteria, the resulting bacteria, and the uses thereof.

[0019] Insertion Sequences (IS) are transposable genetic elements identified in certain prokaryotic organisms. They have a typical length ranging from 300 to 3000 bp (Mahillon and Chandler, 1998; Chandler and Mahillon, 2002). In bacteria, IS are frequently found as part of natural plasmids. IS typically possess one or two open reading frames (ORFs) that encode a transposase, an enzyme that is necessary for their transposition. This (these) ORF(s) is (are) surrounded by linker regions that frequently end with short-terminal inverted repeats (IRs) ranging typically from 7 to 50 bp in length. Some IS may carry multiple repeated sequences at both ends, which may represent transposase binding sites (Zita Nagy and Michael Chandler, Research in Microbiology 155 (5) p 387-398). Contrary to transposons, IS do not contain ORF encoding drug resistance. Upon insertion, IS often undergo short directed repeats from 2 to 14 bp immediately outside the IRs.

[0020] Despite sequence divergence, IS have been grouped into families based on similarities and identities in the primary sequence of their transposases (Tpases) and in their genetic organization (Robinson, Lee, and Marx, 2012). This includes the disposition of their open reading frames (ORFs), the length and similarity of the terminal inverted repeats, and the characteristic number of base pairs in the target DNA which they duplicate upon insertion (Mahillon, Leonard, and Chandler, 1999).

[0021] Depending on the IS, insertion may be target site-selective (Craig, 1997; Tobes and Pareja, 2006). Through transposition, IS can interrupt the coding region of a gene, or disrupt promoter regions and alter gene expression. Given that there can be several copies of the same IS in a genome, IS can also serve as sites of DNA rearrangements such as deletions, duplications and inversions of adjacent DNA segments through homologous recombination (Robinson et al., 2012). Insertion sequences contribute to the variability of the prokaryotic genomes and phenotypes, and are thought to play an important role in the adaptability of prokaryotes to the environment (Schneider and Lenski, 2004).

[0022] IS elements have been identified in D. radiodurans (Makarova et al., 2001; Islam et al., 2003; Mennecier, Servant, Coste, Bailone, and Sommer, 2006; Pasternak et al., 2010). The present invention discloses the characterization of particular IS sequences in Deinococcus bacteria, as well as the uses thereof for genetic modification or shuffling of such bacteria.

[0023] More specifically, the inventors analyzed the presence and occurrence of different IS families in Deinococcus sp. genomes. A total of 11 IS families were found in 5 tested Deinococcus species, which are presented in Table 1. IS families IS4, IS5, IS1 and IS701 were found to be the most scattered among Deinococci, the largest family being IS4, which contains a total of 68 members in Deinococci. Surprisingly, the genomes of D. geothermalis DSM11300 and D. geothermalis MX6-1E possess a larger number of IS elements compared to the other Deinococcus strains (Table 1). In these strains, seventy six IS elements belonging to 10 distinct families were detected (DSM11300 strain) and fifty five spread into 7 IS families (MX6-1E strain).

[0024] The present invention therefore shows an unexpectedly high level number of insertion sequences in thermophile Deinococcus strains such as D. geothermalis (Table 1). This discovery brings new tools for genetic manipulation of thermophile Deinococcus strains and, in particular, allows multicopy integration of genes into Deinococcus bacteria to increase their expression. The presence of different IS families in a single Deinococcus genome even allows the introduction of different DNA constructs (one type of construct targets one family of IS). The present invention therefore provides a novel method to insert or spread or amplify a desired gene into a Deinococcus genome using Deinococcus insertion sequences.

[0025] The present invention also provides a method for chromosomal engineering of a Deinococcus bacterium by expressing or overproducing in said bacterium a transposase that targets an IS present (preferably in several copies) on the chromosome or a plasmid of said bacterium.

Definitions

[0026] Within the context of the present invention, the term "Insertion Sequence" or "IS" element designates a transposable genetic element comprising at least one transposase gene and a flanking terminal Inverted Repeat. IS are devoid of drug resistance gene. IS have a typical length ranging from 300 to 3000 bp, the terminal inverted repeats (IRs) ranging typically from 7 to 50 bp in length.

[0027] Preferred IS elements for use in the invention are Deinococcus IS elements, i.e., IS elements having the sequence of an IS present in one or, preferably, several copies in the genome of a Deinococcus bacterium. Specific examples of Deinococcus IS elements according to the invention are IS200/IS605; IS630; IS701; IS607; IS982; IS3; IS1; IS6; IS5; IS4; or IS66. The sequence of these IS is provided in the sequence listing.

[0028] "IS-based" methods or "IS-mediated" methods designates any method for inserting a gene in a Deinococcus bacterium which uses all or part of an IS element. Insertion is typically targeted, i.e., site-specific or site-controlled. In particular, because IS-mediated insertion generally follows target selectivity of the IS element, the gene insertion is not random but obeys the same rule.

[0029] The term "gene" designates any nucleic acid molecule (e.g., DNA fragment) of interest, such as preferably a nucleic acid comprising an ORF encoding a product (e.g., RNA or polypeptide) of interest. The gene may be natural, recombinant or synthetic. A gene may be single- or double-stranded, typically a DNA molecule. In a particular embodiment, the gene preferably encodes a protein, such as an enzyme. The gene may further comprise one or several regulatory elements operably linked to the ORF, such as a promoter, terminator, intron, etc.

[0030] The term "chromosomal engineering" designates any modification or rearrangement of a chromosome, such as a deletion, translocation, duplication, or inversion of one or several sequences within a chromosome or episome. Chromosomal engineering may result in novel chromosomes or episomes, thus creating novel biological pathways and/or genetic diversity in bacteria, leading to, e.g., bacteria having improved characteristics.

[0031] IS-Mediated Genetic Modification of a Deinococcus

[0032] As indicated the invention resides in IS-mediated genetic modification of Deinococcus bacteria, typically to produce recombinant or genetically improved bacteria. The invention is particularly advantageous since IS-mediated insertion is effective, can be site-selective, and allows insertion of multiple copies of a selected gene. IS-mediated insertion may comprise preferably the introduction of the gene into the genome of the bacterium by homologous recombination with a selected IS present (or inserted or amplified) in the genome of the bacterium; or by intron-mediated insertion into an IS present (or inserted or amplified) in the genome of the bacterium; or by IS-mediated transposition. The method may involve the use of an insertion cassette, the construction of artificial transposon, or the retro-homing mechanism of group II intron as described below, in combination or not with DNA-damaging treatments (UV, gamma, x-irradiation). Preferably, the IS-mediated insertion of a gene in a Deinococcus bacterium includes the (targeted) introduction of said gene into an IS sequence present in the genome of said bacterium.

[0033] The invention may be used to genetically modify any Deinococcus containing an IS element, preferably any Deinococcus strain that contains or that can accept at least two copies of an IS element. Examples of Deinococcus host strains that can be engineered according to the present invention include, without limitation, D. geothermalis, D. radiodurans, D. cellulosilyticus, D. murrayi, D. guilhemensis, D. aerius, D. aerolatus, D. aerophilus, D. aetherius, D. alpinitundrae, D. altitudinis, D. apachensis, D. aquaticus, D. aquatilis, D. aquiradiocola, D. caeni, D. claudionis, D. daejeonensis, D. depolymerans, D. deserti, D. erythromyxa, D. ficus, D. frigens, D. gobiensis, D. grandis, D. hohokamensis, D. hopiensis, D. humi, D. indicus, D. maricopensis, D. marmoris, D. misasensis, D. mumbaiensis, D. navajonensis, D. papagonensis, D. peraridilitoris, D. pimensis, D. piscis, D. proteolyticus, D. radiodurans, D. radiomollis, D. radiophilus, D. radiopugnans, D. reticulitermitis, D. roseus, D. saricola, D. sonorensis, D. wulumuqiensis, D. xibeiensis, D. xinjiangensis, D. yavapaiensis, and D. yunweiensis. Preferred acceptor bacteria are thermophile Deinococcus. Most preferred bacteria are Deinococcus comprising at least 2 copies of an IS element, preferably at least 3 copies thereof. The copies may be present in the chromosome, or induced in said chromosome.

[0034] Accordingly, the method of the invention typically comprises the following steps:

a) provision of a Deinococcus bacterium that contains at least 1, preferably at least 2 copies of a target IS element; and, b) IS-mediated insertion of a gene into said target IS element.

[0035] Preferentially, the targeted IS is an IS present in more than one copy on the genome (chromosome and/or plasmid) of the selected Deinococcus bacterium. The targeted IS is more preferably one of the IS elements selected by the inventors which are listed in Table 1. The identification of several distinct IS elements, in addition, allows the propagation and expression of different genes of interest in a Deinococcus genome. A preferred target IS is selected from IS200/IS605; IS630; IS701; IS607; IS982; IS3; IS1; IS6; IS5; IS4; or IS66.

[0036] The Deinococcus bacterium may contain said at least 2 copies naturally, or may be treated to amplify the copy number of a target IS element, prior to step b), or thereafter.

[0037] Accordingly, the invention generally comprises the following steps:

a) provision of a Deinococcus bacterium for which genetic modification is desired; b) selection, in said Deinococcus bacterium, of at least one target IS element present in the chromosome of said bacterium, preferably in at least two copies; c) optionally treating the bacterium to amplify the copy number of said selected target IS element; and d) inserting a gene into said bacterium by IS-mediated insertion into said selected target IS element.

[0038] In a particular embodiment, the step of treating the bacterium to amplify the copy number of the selected target IS element is conducted after the insertion step. Also, the amplification step can be performed both before and after the insertion step. The treatment may comprise any treatment which allows or increases expression or activity of a transposase and/or causes a cell stress, such as a thermal shock or an irradiation of the cells, which may be selected from UV, gamma and/or X ray irradiation, either alone or in combinations, most preferably UV irradiation(s). Irradiation treatment typically comprises subjecting the microorganisms to one or several sequential irradiations (e.g., from 1 to 5), which may be of the same or different nature, preferably of the same nature. Repeated irradiation treatments are typically carried out at intervals of between 1 and 8 hours, preferably 3 to 5 hours, and more preferably of about 4 hours. A particularly preferred treatment comprises subjecting the sample to UV, X, or gamma irradiation. Such a treatment indeed allows to amplify IS copy numbers and to stimulate chromosomal engineering. Particular UV treatments are typically of between 0.5 and 400 mJ/cm.sup.2, more preferably of between 1 and 200 mJ/cm.sup.2, typically between 1 and 100 mJ/cm.sup.2, applied for a period of time of about 5'' to 5'. A preferred UV treatment is 4 mJ/cm.sup.2 for 30 seconds.

[0039] During the whole process, the cells may be placed in a suitable culture medium such as, without limitation, PGY (Bacto-peptone 10 g/L, Yeast extract 5 g/L, glucose 20 g/L) or LB (Bacto-tryptone 10 g/L, Yeast extract 2.5 g/L, Sodium chloride 10 g/L). It should be understood that other suitable culture media are known to the skilled person (Buchanan et al., 1974; Difco, 1995) or may be prepared by the skilled person from such known media.

[0040] For targeted insertion by homologous recombination into an IS, the gene to be inserted (or amplified) is typically assembled as a recombination cassette, which may be cloned or not in an appropriate vector, such as pMD66. In this regard, the invention shows that linear DNA molecules can be used directly for transformation of Deinococcus bacteria. The recombination cassette typically comprises the gene flanked, on one or both sides, by an HR1 region and/or an HR2 region (of about 100-1000, more preferably about 200-700, such as 300-600, typically about 500 bp each), said HR1 and HR2 regions being homologous, respectively, to a 5' and 3' DNA sequence of the targeted IS element. HR1 and HR2 can be any part of the sequence of the target IS. HR1 and/or HR2 allow insertion of the gene of interest into the chromosome by specific homologous recombination. The recombination cassette may comprise, in addition, e.g., a marker gene (such as a drug resistance gene). In such a case, the two genes (gene of interest and marker gene) may be placed under the control of either one promoter (operon structure) or of distinct separate promoters. Examples of marker genes include antibiotic resistance genes such as genes conferring resistance to e.g., kanamycin, chloramphenicol, bleocin, oxytetracycline, hygromycin, erythromycin, puromycin, or thiamphenicol. The recombination cassette (or the vector carrying the same) is introduced into the selected Deinococcus strain. Introduction may be performed using techniques such as transformation, lipofection, calcium-mediated precipitation, electroporation, etc. The presence of the recombination cassette or vector in the cell can be verified by e.g., detection of the gene or marker gene. After introduction in the host strain, integration of the recombination cassette in the IS target site(s) occurs by homologous recombination. In this regard, in a preferred embodiment, insertion is induced or stimulated by thermal shock. Indeed, upon thermal shock, the vector is lost and recombinant strains expressing the gene have therefore inserted the gene into their chromosome. The results presented in the examples show effective insertion by IS-targeted homologous recombination. They further show that transformation of Deinococcus is effective with a linear DNA construct. They further show that IS-targeted homologous recombination into Deinococcus can be performed with very large recombinant cassettes. Indeed, as shown in Example C, a recombinant cassette of more than 6 kb (e.g., comprising 4 distinct genes) can be successfully inserted into a Deinococcus bacterium by IS-targeted homologous recombination.

[0041] In this regard, the invention also relates to a method for introducing a DNA into a Deinococcus bacterium, the method comprising:

[0042] providing a linear DNA molecule, and

[0043] introducing said molecule into a Deinococcus bacterium.

[0044] More preferably, the linear DNA molecule comprises an HR1 and/or HR2 region as defined above and the method further comprises a step of maintaining the Deinococcus under conditions allowing homologous recombination.

[0045] In a particular embodiment, the linear DNA molecule comprises more than 2 kb, even more than 3, 4, 5 or even 6 kb.

[0046] In an alternative embodiment, IS-mediated insertion is performed by construction of an artificial transposon containing the gene, and introduction of the transposon into the selected Deinococcus bacterium, leading to IS-mediated insertion into the chromosome. The artificial transposon preferably comprises the gene, a transposase gene of a Deinococcus IS element, optionally a marker gene, and one or two IR elements of a Deinococcus IS element. The artificial transposon of the present invention can be constructed using regions or sequences of any IS element as described in Table 1 as starting material. Preferably, the transposase gene and IR sequences are derived from (e.g., have a sequence of a domain of) a same IS element. The transposase gene may be located inside the artificial transposon, that is the transposase gene may be located between the two inverted repeats. Alternatively the transposase gene may be located outside the artificial transposon. In that case, it may be on the transposon-carrying vector, or on the chromosome, or on a distinct vector. The expression of the transposase may be under the control of its own promoter, a constitutive promoter, or an inducible promoter. The marker gene, when present, can be e.g., any gene conferring resistance to an antibiotic such as kanamycin, chloramphenicol, bleocin, oxytetracycline, or hygromycin. The constructed artificial-transposon is typically cloned into a suitable vector, such as pmD66, and introduced into the selected Deinococcus host strain. Upon introduction, IS-mediated insertion of the transposon occurs. If desirable, DNA-damaging agents such as gamma and/or X-irradiations and/or UV treatments or, more generally, any treatment allowing or increasing expression or activity of a transposase, may be applied to enhance the transposition and increase integration and amplification of the artificial transposon in the Deinococcus host cells. Indeed, it has been shown that irradiation can induce transposition in Escherichia coli (Eichenbaum and Livneh, 1998).

[0047] Another alternative embodiment for performing IS-mediated multicopy insertion of a gene into the chromosome of a Deinococcus bacterium is to use group II introns targeting IS sequences. Mobile group II introns are catalytic RNA elements present in a wide range of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms (Michel and Feral, 1995). Some of these introns can mobilize autonomously at a high frequency to allelic sites in a process known as homing. Mobile group II introns possess an intron-encoded protein (IEP) that has reverse transcriptase, RNA splicing ("maturase"), and DNA endonuclease activities (Frazier, Filippo, Lambowitz, and Mills, 2003). Mobility initiates when the IEP helps the intron RNA fold into the catalytically active RNA structure to promote splicing, resulting in ligated exons and an intron lariat-IEP ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. The RNP complex recognizes specific DNA target sites and promotes integration by reverse splicing of the intron RNA directly into one strand of the target DNA. The IEP then cleaves the opposite strand and uses it as a primer for target DNA-primed reverse transcription of the inserted intron RNA. The resulting cDNA copy of the intron is integrated into genomic DNA by cellular recombination or repair mechanisms. DNA target site recognition by the RNP complex involves the base pairing of intron sequences denoted EBS1 and -2 (exon binding sites 1 and 2) and .delta. to sequences denoted IBS1 and -2 (intron binding sites 1 and 2) and .delta.' in the DNA target site.

[0048] The EBS sequences can be mutagenized to retarget the intron to invade a selected IS sequence in Deinococcus. In the present invention, a plasmid such as pMD66 carrying the IEP protein (reverse transcriptase)-encoding gene and the group II intron which contains in its sequence a multiple cloning site allowing the cloning of the gene of interest was used. The expression of group II intron harboring the gene of interest is controlled by a constitutive or inducible promoter, such as the T7 constitutive promoter whereas the IEP (reverse transcriptase)-encoding gene is under the control of an inducible or constitutive promoter. Alternatively, the group II introns harboring the gene of interest is integrated into the Deinococcus chromosome and the reverse transcriptase encoding-gene carried by a replicative plasmid is under the control of either a constitutive or inducible promoter. This system that uses intron-mediated insertion or amplification does not rely on homologous recombination to achieve multicopy integration and facilitate stable chromosomal gene delivery without selection (Rawsthorne, Turner, and Mills, 2006).

[0049] A further object of the invention resides in a method for producing a recombinant Deinococcus bacterium comprising one or several copies of a gene of interest inserted into its genome, the method comprising introducing said gene of interest into the genome of said bacterium by IS-mediated insertion and, optionally, amplifying the copy number by subjecting said bacterium or a descendant thereof to a gene amplification treatment.

[0050] The invention also relates to a Deinococcus bacterium obtained by IS-mediated insertion of a nucleic acid molecule (e.g. DNA fragment), or a descendant of said bacterium.

[0051] The invention further relates to a Deinococcus bacterium comprising one or several copies of a nucleic acid molecule (e.g. DNA fragment) inserted into an IS element.

[0052] A further object of the invention is a nucleic acid molecule (e.g. DNA fragment) comprising a gene of interest flanked, on one or both sides, by a sequence homologous to a sequence of Deinococcus IS element, as well as a vector comprising such a nucleic acid.

[0053] Still another object of the invention is a nucleic acid molecule (e.g. DNA fragment) comprising a gene of interest flanked, on one or both sides, by a sequence of an inverted repeat sequence of Deinococcus IS element, as well as a vector comprising such a nucleic acid molecule.

[0054] Chromosomal Engineering

[0055] As indicated above, another object of the invention resides in a method for inducing (or increasing) chromosomal engineering (e.g., rearrangement or shuffling) in a Deinococcus bacterium, the method comprising expressing in said bacterium a transposase gene. More particularly, the method comprises:

a) causing or inducing expression of at least one transposase in a Deinococcus bacterium; and b) selecting a Deinococcus bacterium of step a) having a reengineered chromosome.

[0056] In step a), the transposase may be expressed on a vector, or chromosome, or supplied as a protein. The transposase is preferably a transposase of an IS element present in said bacterium. Expression of the transposase may be combined with a treatment of the cells to amplify a gene copy number, such as irradiation.

[0057] For example a strain expressing one or several transposases can be submitted to an increasing selection pressure (e.g., increasing ethanol concentration to strengthen its resistance to ethanol). A shuffling of the genome will occur due to the expression of the transposases and the most resistant clones will be selected.

[0058] The method of the invention may be used to insert any gene of interest into a Deinococcus strain, in one or more copies, allowing an increase of its expression. The gene may encode any product of interest, such as an RNA (mRNA, tRNA, siRNA, etc.) or a polypeptide (protein, peptide, etc.). Examples of such polypeptides include, without limitation, enzymes involved in metabolism, any biologically active polypeptide, etc.

[0059] The polypeptide may be a polypeptide having pharmaceutical and/or agro-chemical interest. In a particular embodiment, the polypeptide is a pharmaceutical compound (e.g., suitable for use in human or veterinary medicine). Specific examples of such a compound include, without limitation, antibiotics, bacteriostatic compounds, anti-metabolite, chemotherapeutic compounds, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, polysaccharides, anti-parasitic agents, anti-fungal agents, anti-viral compounds, cytokine-activity compounds, cell-growth factors, hormones, anti-depressives, anti-migraine, anti-asthma, contraceptives, anti-diabetics, psychotropic, anti-arrythmics, enzyme-inhibitors, or adjuvants.

[0060] The polypeptide may also have utility e.g., in cosmetics or agriculture, such as pigments, insecticides, pesticides, chemical-degrading compounds, etc.

[0061] Examples of enzymes include biomass-degradation enzymes or fermentation enzymes, such as laccases, xylanases, amylases, ADH (alcohol dehydrogenase), PDC (pyruvate decarboxylase), etc. Further examples of polypeptides include enzymes of biological biosynthetic pathways, in particular, enzymes involved in the synthesis of antibiotics.

[0062] Further aspects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the following Examples section, which is illustrative.

EXAMPLES

[0063] A. Characterization of Deinococcus IS Sites

[0064] A search and compilation of IS sequences present in Deinococcus strains was performed by the inventors. A complete list of all identified IS sequences found in different Deinococcus species is presented in Table 1 below.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 IS distribution among Deinococcus species Total Genome Deinococcus sp. IS200/IS605 IS630 IS701 IS607 IS982 IS3 IS1 IS6 IS5 IS4 IS66 of IS Size (Mb) D. deserti 0 2 1 0 2 5 0 0 1 4 0 15 3.86 VCD115 D. geothermalis 3 1 17 1 1 0 19 8 12 8 6 76 3.25 DSM11300 D. geothermalis 6 0 6 0 0 0 12 2 1 18 10 55 3.25 MX6-1E D. maricopensis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3.5 DSM21211 D. proteolyticus 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 13 0 23 2.89 MRP D. radiodurans 9 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 25 1 47 3.28 Total number of 18 13 24 1 5 5 31 10 22 68 17 217 -- IS among Deinococcus sp.

[0065] B. Gene Insertion by IS-Mediated Homologous Recombination in Deinococcus

[0066] We built Deinococcus plasmids (pMD66-type for replicative, pUC-type for non-replicative) harboring IS-targeting cassettes (see FIG. 1). A DNA fragment containing a gene encoding resistance to hygromycin (grey rectangle) under the control of its own promoter was flanked by two 500 bp regions named HR1 and HR2 (black rectangle), that are homologous to N-term and C-term sequences, respectively, of the insertion sequence IS66 of Deinococcus geothermalis. The nucleic acid sequences of HR1 and HR2 are provided as SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 12, respectively. The IS targeting vector is then transformed into D. geothermalis and strains expressing the hygromycin gene are selected using the embedded marker on PGY-agar plate containing 800 .mu.g/ml of hygromycin. In an alternative experiment, a linear DNA fragment containing HR1-hygromycin-HR2 was used directly to transform Deinococcus cells, the selection of recombinants being carried out as described above. The clones that showed resistance to hygromycin were selected. Such clones are recombinant bacteria having inserted the target nucleic acid into an IS element. In this regard, in order to verify the insertion of the hygromycin resistance-encoding gene into the IS66, the clones were subjected to PCR amplification with primers designated "A" and "B", which anneal specifically to the region upstream the IS66 and to the 5'-end of hygromycin gene, respectively, generating a DNA PCR fragment of about 700 bp (see FIG. 1).

[0067] The results presented in FIG. 1 confirm the insertion of the recombinant nucleic acid into the targeted IS.

[0068] C. Ethanol Pathway Genes Insertion by IS-Targeted Homologous Recombination in Deinococcus geothermalis

[0069] An IS-targeting cassette was constructed comprising a PDC gene and two alcohol dehydrogenase encoding genes. The cassette also comprises an antibiotic resistance marker to hygromycin. The cassette is flanked by two 500 bp regions HR1 (SEQ ID NO: 11) and HR2 (SEQ ID NO: 12) (FIG. 2, black rectangle), that are homologous to N-term and C-term sequences of the insertion sequence IS66 of Deinococcus geothermalis, respectively. The cassette comprises 6548 bp. The IS-targeting cassette (linear molecule), or a vector containing the cassette, are transformed into D. geothermalis and recombinant strains having inserted the cassette into their chromosome are selected using the embedded marker on PGY-agar plate containing 800 .mu.g/ml of hygromycin. The mapping of the cassette in the genome is confirmed by PCR using primers "C" and "D", primer C being specific of each upstream sequence of IS66 and D being specific of 5' end of PDC. The results are presented in FIG. 2. They show the construction has been found integrated into four different loci of IS66 (CDS_1696, CDS_1721, CDS_2881 and CDS_2557 (FIG. 2)), into the chromosome or into native plasmid 1 of Deinococcus.

[0070] These results confirm the efficacy of the method with linear DNA construct. They confirm the specificity of the method since the cassette is found in the targeted IS. They also demonstrate the efficacy of the method with very large expression cassettes.

[0071] D. Gene Insertion by IS-Mediated Artificial Transposition in Deinococcus

[0072] An IS-propagating cassette is prepared (FIG. 3). The gene of interest is flanked by 2 Inverted repeat sequences (black, IRs) that can be recognized by a Transposase. A Deinococcus replicative vector allowing for Transposase thermosensitive-expression is transformed into the GOI_IRs strain. Upon Transposase expression (grey), the gene is inserted and propagated into the chromosome.

REFERENCES

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[0075] Frazier, C. L., Filippo, J. S., Lambowitz, A. M., & Mills, D. A. (2003). Genetic Manipulation of Lactococcus lactis by Using Targeted Group II Introns: Generation of Stable Insertions without Selection Genetic Manipulation of Lactococcus lactis by Using Targeted Group II Introns: Generation of Stable Insertions without Selec. doi: 10.1128/AEM.69.2.1121

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[0078] Kichenaradja, P., Siguier, P., Perochon, J., & Chandler, M. (2010). ISbrowser: an extension of ISfinder for visualizing insertion sequences in prokaryotic genomes. Nucleic acids research, 38 (Database issue), D62-8. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkp947

[0079] Mahillon, J., Leonard, C., & Chandler, M. (1999). IS elements as constituents of bacterial genomes. Research in Microbiology, 150(9-10), 675-687. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10673006

[0080] Mennecier, S., Servant, P., Coste, G., Bailone, A., & Sommer, S. (2006). Mutagenesis via IS transposition in Deinococcus radiodurans. Molecular Microbiology, 59(1), 317-325. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04936.x

[0081] Michel, F., & Feral, J. (1995). STRUCTURE AND ACTIVITIES.

[0082] Pasternak, C., Ton-Hoang, B., Coste, G., Bailone, A., Chandler, M., & Sommer, S. (2010). Irradiation-Induced Deinococcus radiodurans Genome Fragmentation Triggers Transposition of a Single Resident Insertion Sequence. (Array, Ed.) PLoS Genetics, 6(1), 10. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen. 1000799

[0083] Rawsthorne, H., Turner, K. N., & Mills, D. a. (2006). Multicopy integration of heterologous genes, using the lactococcal group II intron targeted to bacterial insertion sequences. Applied and environmental microbiology, 72(9), 6088-93. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02992-05

[0084] Robinson, D. G., Lee, M.-C., & Marx, C. J. (2012). OASIS: an automated program for global investigation of bacterial and archaeal insertion sequences. Nucleic acids research, 40(22), e174. doi:10.1093/nar/gks778

[0085] Sallam, K. I., Tamura, N., Imoto, N., & Tamura, T. (2010). New vector system for random, single-step integration of multiple copies of DNA into the Rhodococcus genome. Applied and environmental microbiology, 76(8), 2531-9. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02131-09

[0086] Schneider, D., & Lenski, R. E. (2004). Dynamics of insertion sequence elements during experimental evolution of bacteria. Research in Microbiology, 155(5), 319-327. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2003.12.008

[0087] Tobes, R., & Pareja, E. (2006). Bacterial repetitive extragenic palindromic sequences are DNA targets for Insertion Sequence elements. BMC genomics, 7, 62. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-7-62

Sequence CWU 1

1

1211248DNADeinococcus sp.misc_featureIS3_Deinococcus deserti VCD115-Deide_02801- ISDds1 1tgaggatgac ccgatatggc gtagatggag ataagccctc acgataggag gcaccatcat 60gactgatcgc agaatccaca ccgccgagtt caagcgagac gcagtgcagc ttgctcgaac 120gagcggcaac ctgtcgggca ccgcgcgtga cctgggcatc aacagctccc tgctgcgcaa 180atggatgaat gctgagcagg agaagggcga gttggcattc cctggtcagg gcaaacagct 240cctcactcca gagcaacagg agatacaacg gcttcgcaag gagaacgaaa tcctgcgaca 300ggagcgcgag atcctaaaaa aggcggcagc cttcttcgcc aaagaaacca cacgctgagg 360tatgaattca tccaagatca acgccccgag taccgcctgg acctgctgtg ccgggtgctg 420gaggtctcgg tgagcgggta ccacagctgg cgaagaaggc cgatctgcga ccgcaaggaa 480gaggatgcgc tgctcgagca gcgcatccag gaagtgcatc aacgtagtaa acgccgctat 540ggggcgccac gcattcacgc ggagttgcac gctggaggag tgcgcgtgtc ccgcaagcgg 600gtggcgcgtc tgatgcgtgc cagtggtctg cgggccaagg gaaagcgccg ctgggtgcgg 660accacgggga gcagtcacac catggccgtc tgcccgaacc tgcttgagcg gcggttcgag 720gtctcgcagc cgaaccaggt ctgggcgttg gacctgacgt atctgcccac gaaagagggc 780tggctgtatc tcgcagtcac cttagacctg cattcgcgag ccgtggtggg ttacgcgatg 840gacatgcaga tgccagccac cttgccactg gcggcccttc agatggctgc tggccgacgt 900cttccgccac caggcctcct tcatcacagc gacaggggca gtcaatacgc gagtggcatc 960tttcaggcag aactggcccg catgcgggcc aggggcagta tgagtcgtaa gggggattgt 1020tgggacaacg ccgtggtgga aagcttcttc agctccctga aaagggagtt gctggaggac 1080accatctttg agacccggga cgtggcccga caagccgtat ttgaattcat cgaggtcttc 1140tacaaccgtc agcgtcgtca ctcgtctctt gggtacttga cgcccctgga gttcgaacgc 1200caagctacag ctgcttaact tcagctacgc aatatcgggc caggccca 124821757DNADeinococcus sp.misc_featureIS200/IS605_Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300- Dgeo_2273-ISDge10 2caaaacgggg tctggggcgg aaaaccaacc ccttcagggg ttggatgcag agtcccagcc 60ggccgtcagg gcgggcaggg ctgaggctgt tgcgccgtgt tagtaggggc ttgcgacaaa 120cgccgagccg tgtcagtctc tcttcgtggc tgaccagtac aaacacgcca acaccacggt 180gtatctgctg aactaccact tcgtgttcat cccgaagcgg cggcggaagg tgctggtcgg 240cccggtcgag acgcgcctga aggaagtgct ggcggagaag tgtgcggaga tgaagtggga 300cattctcgcc cttgaggtga tgcctgacca cgttcacctg ttccttgccg ccgaccccgc 360caccgcgccc aatcaggtga tgcacttgct gaagggctac acgtcgcgga ttctccggca 420ggagttcccg cacctgaaca cgctccccgc cctgtggacc cggagctact tcgtgtccac 480ggctggggcg gtgagtgggg ccaccatcca aaagtacatc gccgctcaga agacgaggga 540ctgaatgacg acgcaccgca aggtctacag gtatcggatt gagccgaccc cggttcaaga 600gtcgaagctg tacatgctgg cgggaagtcg gcgcttcgtc ttcaactggg ctcttgcgcg 660tcgaagggaa cactacgccg aaacgggcaa gaccctgggg tacaacgctc aggcgggaga 720gttgacggcc ctgaagaacc aggaggaaac ctcctggctg aaggaatcgg acagccagct 780tctccagcag gccctcaagg acgtggagcg ggccttcgtc aacttctttg agaagcgggc 840gaggttcccc cggttcaaga gcaaaaagac ggatactccg cgcttccgta ttccccagcg 900ggtgcggata gaggggagcc gtgtgtatgt cccgaaggtg ggatgggtta agctccgcaa 960gtctcaggag atagagggca agaccaagag cgcgacgttc aagcgggagg cagacggtca 1020ctggtacgtc ttgctcgtct ccgagtttga gatgcccgat gtaccgctgc cccccgtccc 1080tgagtccgag gtggtcggga ttgacctcgg cctgaaggat ttctacgtgt tgtccgacgg 1140cgggcggaaa gaggccccga ggtttgcccg caaggggcag cggaaactcc gccgcgctgc 1200ccgtcgtcac tccaaatgca ccagggggag caaccgcaag gcgaaggcca agcggaagct 1260cgcccgtgtt caccgccaga ttgcgaatca gagaaaggac ttcgttcaca aggccacctc 1320cggtcttgtt cagcagtacc agggtttctg catcgagaac ttgagcatca aggggatggc 1380gaaaaccaag ctgtccaaga gcgttctcga cgccgccctg ggagagtttc gccgccagct 1440cgcctacaag gcccagtggc accggaagtg gctggcggtc atagaccgct ggtttccgtc 1500cagcaagctg tgtggggaat gcggcagcat caacgcagac ctgaccctga gtgaccggga 1560atggacgtgc gaatgtggag cggttcacga ccgcgacctc aacgccgccc ggaacatcaa 1620gcgggaaggg ctttcgcaaa tcgtcgtcgc ggggcacgcg gagacgttaa acgctcgggg 1680agagggtgtc agacctgcga tagcgggcag ccctcgatga agcgagaatc caacggcttt 1740agccgttgga gtgtcaa 175731071DNADeinococcus sp.misc_featureIS630_Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300- Dgeo_1042-ISDge7 3ttattgagtc cggcatgggt tggagacgac aggtacactg agggcgtgct ccgcgtctgg 60cgaccctcga ccctgacccg cgaccaactg gaggaacggc ggctctatgc tcagcaactc 120ctagccacag gcgagatcag taccaaggaa atcgcggaaa cgctcggcgt ttccgaaagt 180accgtccgaa cctggaagca gcgcctccgt gagcatggga gcctcaaggc tacccaagct 240ccggggcctc cccagcgcct gagtccagaa cagcgtgctc agttggagga actgctccgc 300gaaggacctc tggccgctgg ctaccccgac tcgcgttgga ctacccctcg cgtgcgggcg 360atcatcggaa cgcactttga cgtgtggtat cacgccgatc acgtcagaac agtccttcat 420cagctcggct tcagtcctca gaagccagaa ccgcgtgccc tggaacgcaa tgagcaggcc 480attcagactt gggtcgagca cacgctcccc gagttggaaa aaaaaggtcg agcagggcgc 540gaccctcgtc ttcctcgatg aaagtggctt cagtctgaag cccaccgtga cccgaacctg 600ggcccctcga ggacaaacac cgatccttcg gacgaaagca gcttgggaca agctctcgac 660catcggggcc atcaccacga gcggccagtt cctgcaacac acacactcgg gagccattcg 720aggtgctcag gtggtggcct tctgccaaca tcttctccgg cacgtgcagg gtgaattcgt 780tgtgctgatg gataacgccc gcatccacaa aacgaaggcc ctgagggcct tcgttgagca 840gcaaccgcgt ctcaccatcg aatatcttcc accttacgcg cctgacctca accccattga 900gcgggtgtgg gcctacatca aaggaccaat cctgggcaac ttctgcgcca aggacatcgg 960cgaattgaag gggagactga aggctgcctg gcaacgtgtt cgctacgttc agctccccca 1020gcgcctcgcc cgcccctacc gtgcgtccca aacctaagcc ggagtcaata g 107141150DNADeinococcus sp.misc_featureIS701_Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300- Dgeo_3008-ISDge5 4tcaggagttg cacctgaata ggtagcgaag aagcgctccc agacgcgaga atctggggat 60gtcgaattcg cagattctgg gggagcgcgc ccgtattctg gcagatcagc tcctcgctgt 120gcccaccacc gtctatcagc agcgcagctt gcaagctgcg ctgcacctgt tcctcgatac 180ggggaccaaa accgccctgc accgtgcgcc gctggtcagc aagagtgcgg tgagccgctt 240gttgaacaat tatgactggg atacagcggc ctgctgggcg ttgctccagc gcagccagtg 300ggaggccctg ctgctcgccg cacgacgcaa gcgtcgtgcc tgcctccggt tgagcgtgga 360cctgaccagc atcgagaaga cgggcaagca attgcccttc gtccgcgtct acaacgaagt 420ccacggcatt catctggtcg tgctgtttgc cgaataccgg gggctgaaat tcccggtggg 480gtatcgggtc taccggggaa agggcacagc aacccccgtg tcgctcgccc tggaattgct 540gggggaggtg cccgacgcca ttcggaagcg ctttcgaatc cgtgtgctgg cggacagcgg 600ctttgaagcc gctgtcttcc tggatggggt tcgtaccctg ggcttcgagt tcgtcgtcgg 660cgtccgagcg actcggcgta ccacccatcc cggtcaagtg acggtggcgg actgcgaaca 720tggggcctgg ctggaattgc agaactggcc gcatgacacc ctgaccctcg cccgagttga 780gcggggagag cggacctttt tctcggtcgc ctcagagttg atgacgggag acgaagtggc 840cgccgagggg ggcaagcggt ggaacatcga gtcctttttc aaggagggca agcaccagtt 900tagtctccag cagttcgcct tgcgaactgc ccgcggctta gaccgctggg tgctgctggt 960gtttctcgcc ttcaccttaa cgatgctgca ccgctcgcct gacctctcgc ttgaagaggc 1020cgcagggctg gccttgaccc tggccctccc tttcctccgc ttgaacgtca tcttcgcccg 1080cctcgccaca gacgaggaat ttctgcgcca gcacggctat tcactcaaaa ttgcaaggtg 1140caactcctga 11505907DNADeinococcus sp.misc_featureIS982_Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300- Dgeo_1090-ISDge8 5accgcgaata ggggttgaca gagcaggggg agaaatggca aagggacggt gctcatgtgc 60cgtcccgacc tcagtttact ccccatcccg gaggcgctcc agcacctcac ggtctggctc 120actccgcaga tgcctcccaa gctgatccat ccgcacgaaa aaatcagtga cggcgaactg 180gtcgctgttg ccctgttgca acgcctctac aaagcgccgt atttcaaggg gtggtggaag 240ctcaatcact gtccccactt cccctccgag gtgcaggccc gaacccgttt ggaacgcctg 300acgcctgtaa tggagcgact tgcaaccgaa gtccaggcac tggacttcgt cgctgtggac 360tccgaaccgc tcccggtgtg caccttcaaa cgcgcgcccc gctgcaagtt caaaggggca 420cgacacggct tcagtactgc tggcccggtc tatgggttca agctgcatgc ctggaccacc 480ctgaacggca agatcgctaa gtatgagatc cggcccgcca acgaacacga cttcacggtc 540gggtgcgtga tgaaccagga ttggcccgcc tatgggagga atggcgtcct caggggcgtc 600cgttcaagac gaacagggcc gaagcaaatt ggggacaaag gctaccagtc gggcacctat 660ctgacgcctc ccaagaagaa tgccaagcga tctgaccctc ggtggaaaga agaatatgcg 720gcagctcgta agatcatcga atcggcgttc tccgtcctgg tcggctccgg gctgcgctgg 780gggcaggtca aaaccctggt tagtctctgc cttaaggtcg ccctcctcgt cctggcgcac 840aacctcaagt tccttgacct ctccccctga tcacagccca gcctccgagt caacccctat 900tcgcggt 9076748DNADeinococcus sp.misc_featureIS1_Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300- Dgeo_0430-ISDge2 6ggtagtggct gcgacgacgt gatgtaatgg aggggtgccc gagtgcccaa cctgtcagag 60catccagacg gtcaagaacg gaaaggccaa aaacggcacc cagacgtact tgtgtaaggt 120ctgtggtcgt cgcttccacc ccaacgccag acctgtggcc cacagtgaag cgaccaagga 180gcagattctc caggcggttc atgagcgaat gagcctcaga ggcgtacagc gcgtgtttgg 240cgtccaccgc aacaccgtca tccggtggat aaaaaggggg cctccgaagt gaggcagacc 300gtaccggtct gcctcacacc tcccgaagaa gtggtggttg agctggatga attgtggacc 360ttcgtgggca agaaaaagca ggcgaggtgg ctctggattg ccctggagcg cagcacccga 420aaggtgctgg cttgggttct gggcgaccgg agtgagcaaa ccgcgttcaa gctctgggac 480cgcttgccgc tgtccccaga acagcgcctg aagggcacgt tttgcacgga cctgtggcgt 540gcttacgacg agccactcct gggggtgaag cggctcaccc gcaaggggga aacgaaccac 600gtcgaacggc tcaactgcac cctcagacag cggctaggtc ggctggtccg caagtcgttg 660tccttctcaa agtccgacga gatgctcgaa gcgagcctga ccctcgcctt ccatcgctac 720aacctgtcac gttgatgcag ccactacc 7487806DNADeinococcus sp.misc_featureIS6_Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300- Dgeo_2913-ISDge13 7ggttctgtca ggttaagttc gggtaggctg gtttatcgtg cctgctgacc cgaagcccta 60tcgccaccgt ttccccaaga gcatcatcca acacgccgtt tggctgtatc accgcttccc 120tctcagctac cgagatgttg aagaattgct gctccaacgc ggaattcaag tcagtcacga 180aacaattcgt gactggtgcg ataagttcgg ccccaccatc accaaggaat tgaagaaacg 240ggaaccccat cggggttccc attggcacct ggatgaagtc tgcgtcaaga tcaagggcgt 300caagcactgg ttgtggcgtg ccgtggacga gcatggcgct gtgctggatg ttcttctgca 360agaacaccgc gacactgagg cggccaagat gttcttcact atgttgctga gcaactacga 420ggctccaacc accatccaca ccgacaaact gggcagttac agagcagcca ttcgtgagat 480tcctgaactt catggtgcgc tgcaccgtga agtgatttcg acggccaggt gcaacaattt 540gattgaacag tcgcaccgac cgacacgaaa tcaggaacga agccagaaag gcttcaaggg 600catagagaac acacagaaat tccttgatct acacgccaga accagcaatc tccaccagtt 660cacgcgaacg accgtgaccg ccaaaacgag acgaagcaac cagagaaccg cttttcaaac 720ctggaacgag gttgcgctgc tcgcagcctg accaatcagg ccaccctgcc cccgtcaacg 780tcgcaaaaac ttaacctgac agaacc 80681117DNADeinococcus sp.misc_featureIS5_Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300- Dgeo_2191-ISDge6 8agacccgctg cgaaataggg gcggtgtgaa gtagattcgg ggggtgttgc gcgtccagac 60gctgaaacgc cggtcccgtg ccttcgaacg cctcatcggt ctgactcctg agcagttcga 120cgctttgctg gccgacctcg aaccggagtg ggagcgcgct cgtcgtcgct ccctgctgcg 180tgctgaccgc gttcgggcga ttggcggtgg ccgcacccac aagctggaac tgccagagcg 240cctcttggtg acgttgctct atctacgtca gtacttcacc gtccacgtcc tcgggatgtt 300cttcgacctg gacgacagca acgtgtgccg caacattcac gccctgctgc ccgtcctgga 360gcaggttctt cccgctcccg tgcgcgccag gacgttggcg gccacgggag acgagccgcc 420gaagaagggc gagaagaagc cacgcaagat ccgctcgctc gacgagttcg ttgaagcctt 480ccccgagtac gaggacctga tcgtggacgc gaccgagcag cctcgcggcc agcccaaagt 540caagaagggt gagacgccgg gcaagaaggc ggtcggacgt ccgaaagaca agaagaagtt 600tttcagcgtc aaggcgggca cccataccct caagacccaa gtcgccgtca cgccggacgg 660gctgattcgg cacctgagcg cccccgtgcc gggccggatg cacgacatgc gcctcttgcg 720ccgctcccgg ctggaagggc gcgtgccgcg ccacgtgcgg ctgtggggcg atcggggcta 780caccggactc gacacgctct acccggaccg agagacggtg gtgccccgca agaagcccaa 840gaaaggcgtg ctcagcgacg aagacaagga gatgaaccgc ctgatcgcca aggtgcgcat 900cacggtggag aacgtcctgt gtcagatcaa gaagtaccgg gcgtgtggag agttcttccg 960caatcccatg aagcggcacg gggtgatgtg gggatgcgtg gcaggcctgg tgaacctacg 1020aacgctcgac cgcttggccc tccatcccgc ctgaacgacc cagcaacgac ggagagccgt 1080gcctggtcgg cacggcccct tgtttcgcag caggtct 111791127DNADeinococcus sp.misc_featureIS4_Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300- Dgeo_1784-ISDge9 9ctctctaggg gtcaaaactc agatggagac ttgagaagtc ggctcctgta cggtgttttc 60tgcgatgaaa gacacccgga gccgacccgc tcagtctagc ctcactgccc tgcttgctga 120gcacttcccg ctggatcctc gtcgcctgac cgtcttgagc gccctgatct tggccgtgat 180tcaggcacga agcgtcgttc tttaccagct cgtccagatc gttgaccttc ccggctcaaa 240cgacaccgtg taccaacgcc tgaagcgctt cgtgcaattc gcacttcctg atctcctggt 300tgcccgcttc gtcctggccc atctgcgaga cgagcagcat ctgctgctcg tcctggaccg 360caccaattgg aagctcggtc agcaggacat caatattctc ctgctcagtg tgcggtggca 420gaccttcagt ttcccgctcg tctggacctt gttgccgcat agcggcaaca gcaacatggc 480gacccgcatc gcgctggtcg aacgcctgct cccattgctc cagggcaaga cactcttcct 540ggccgctgac cgagagttcg tcggtgggga gtggttcgtg gccttgcgcc gcatgagcct 600ttctcccgtg atccgtttgc gggctgacag catggtcgag gggtccccag tctgggtcag 660attcaagaaa ctcaagccgg gtgaagtgcg ggtctggtac aagcccactc acgtctacgg 720cgtgacgctg cgcgttctag cgtgccagaa cgtccacggc cagactctct tcctggctta 780ccaaggccat gctgaaaaag ccctgaaacg ttacgcgctg cgctggacag cagaaaacat 840gcatcaggcg ctgaaatcca ggggcttttt tctcgaaagc actcacctga ctgatcccag 900tcgggtttcc acgctcctgg ccgtggtcgc actggccttt gtatggtgct gtttagtggg 960agagtttgag cagcagcgtg acccgtcacg ctgcctcagg cacggctatc cccccaaaag 1020cctcttcaga cgtggcctgg atgcccttcg cgccgtgctg accaagccca accgtggggc 1080tgcacgcgcg tttcccgact ttctcgccac ttttgacccc tagagag 1127101453DNADeinococcus sp.misc_featureIS66_Deinococcus geothermalis DSM11300- Dgeo_0266-ISDge4 10gtgactactc agcaggggga gttgatgtct gcggcaaggt agagtagggc atcacacagg 60acgcctgccc gaactgccaa cgactggaag ctgaacttgt gcagcttcgt caggaacttg 120agcgtctgaa ggcagagcta cgcgaactga aatcccgtct gaaacgcgat agtgagactt 180caaatcagcc accgagcaaa gacccgccct ggaagcccaa aagtgagcgg cagaagagcg 240aacgctcttc tggtggtcag cgtggtcatc cggggaaaac cctgaaattc agtgacgaac 300ccgatgacat ccagcccctc ccgctcacgg gtcaatgcgg gtgtggacaa gcgtgggacg 360aggtgaaggc gactgaacat ctggcccggc aggttcacga cctgccggaa ctgcgcctgc 420acatcactga atttcaggct gaagtcaaaa tctgtcccag gtgtggttgc cggggacagg 480cggcttttcc tgagcatgtt cctggacagg tgcaatacgg gccgcgcctg cacgccctga 540cgacatattt gaatgtggtg catttcgtac cactgcaacg ggtaactcag atcacggacg 600cgctttttgg cgcgtccatc agcgatggca ccgtggctct gaacatcaat ctggcctcag 660agcgcctcaa accgtttgag gacgacctga aggctggact caggcagcaa cccgtgctgc 720acgcagatga aacgggcgca aaggtgaatg gcaaattgaa ctggttccat gtcgcgtgct 780ttgctggtgg gacgctctac acgctgcatc cgcaacgagg ctatgccgcg atcaaagccg 840ccggtgtcct gtctgacttt gggggcgtcg tggttcacga cgcttggaac acctatttcc 900gtctgccagg ggaacatgcg ctgtgcaatg ctcacctgtt gcgggagtta cgcaaactgg 960atgagcatga cgggcaaccc tgggccggtg aactgcgacg cgaactccag caggtctacc 1020acttgcaaaa atcaggagga atcaccgaac agcagaaaat ggccttctat acacgctttg 1080acgaactggt gcaggctgct ctggaagcca acccagtgca ggaacccatt ccaaaacagc 1140gtggaaaacc caaacaactt ccagggagga acctagcctt gcggtgccag cagcatcgcg 1200ccgcgatgct gcgctttctg gaacgtgatg atgtgccctt tgataacaac caggccgagc 1260gtgacatcag gatgctatgc gtgaaacgca aggtttcagg tgggttccgc tctgaggcgg 1320gtggcgaggc gttctgtcgc attcggagtt tcgtgtcaac ccttcacaag cagggtctat 1380ccgtttggga cggtttagtg gatgtttttc gcggtgtcct acccaaactc gatttctcgt 1440gctgagcagt tac 145311501DNAArtificialHR1 region 11gtgactactc agcaggggga gttgatgtct gcggcaaggt agagtagggc atcacacagg 60acgcctgccc gaactgccaa cgactggaag ctgaacttgt gcagcttcgt caggaacttg 120agcgtctgaa ggcagagcta cgcgaactga aatcccgtct gaaacgcgat agtgagactt 180caaatcagcc accgagcaaa gacccgccct ggaagcccaa aagtgagcgg cagaagagcg 240aacgctcttc tggtggtcag cgtggtcatc cggggaaaac cctgaaattc agtgacgaac 300ccgatgacat ccagcccctc ccgctcacgg gtcaatgcgg gtgtggacaa gcgtgggacg 360aggtgaaggc gactgaacat ctggcccggc aggttcacga cctgccggaa ctgcgcctgc 420acatcactga atttcaggct gaagtcaaaa tctgtcccag gtgtggttgc cggggacagg 480cggcttttcc tgagcatgtt c 50112505DNAArtificialHR2 region 12ctggacaggt gcaatacggg ccgcgcctgc acgccctgac gacatatttg aatgtggtgc 60atttcgtacc actgcaacgg gtaactcaga tcacggacgc gctttttggc gcgtccatca 120gcgatggcac cgtggctctg aacatcaatc tggcctcaga gcgcctcaaa ccgtttgagg 180acgacctgaa ggctggactc aggcagcaac ccgtgctgca cgcagatgaa acgggcgcaa 240aggtgaatgg caaattgaac tggttccatg tcgcgtgctt tgctggtggg acgctctaca 300cgctgcatcc gcaacgaggc tatgccgcga tcaaagccgc cggtgtcctg tctgactttg 360ggggcgtcgt ggttcacgac gcttggaaca cctatttccg tctgccaggg gaacatgcgc 420tgtgcaatgc tcacctgttg cgggagttac gcaaactgga tgagcatgac gggcaaccct 480gggccggtga actgcgacgc gaact 505

Claims

1. A Deinococcus bacterium comprising one or several copies of a gene of interest inserted into an insertion sequence (IS) element.

2. The Deinococcus bacterium of claim 1, wherein said bacterium is produced by a method comprising introducing in a targeted manner said gene of interest into an IS present in the genome of said bacterium and, optionally, amplifying the copy number by subjecting said bacterium or a descendant thereof to a gene amplification treatment.

3. The Deinococcus bacterium of claim 1, wherein the insertion sequence is present in several copies in the genome of said bacterium.

4. The Deinococcus bacterium of claim 1, wherein the IS is selected from IS200/IS605; IS630; IS701; IS607; IS982; IS3; IS1; IS6; IS5; IS4; or IS66.

5. The Deinococcus bacterium of claim 1, wherein the gene of interest is flanked, on one or both sides, by an insertion-mediating sequence.

6. The Deinococcus bacterium of claim 5, wherein the insertion-mediating sequence comprises a sequence homologous to a sequence of the IS, allowing insertion of the gene of interest into the IS element by homologous recombination.

7. The Deinococcus bacterium of claim 5, wherein the insertion-mediating sequence comprises an Inverted Repeat element of an IS, allowing insertion of the gene of interest into the IS element by transposition or an intron sequence, allowing insertion of the gene of interest into the IS element by retro-homing.

8. The Deinococcus bacterium of claim 1, wherein the gene of interest comprises an open reading frame encoding a biologically active polypeptide or RNA.

9. The Deinococcus bacterium of claim 1, wherein the gene of interest comprises an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide having pharmaceutical and/or agro-chemical interest or which is an enzyme.

10. The Deinococcus bacterium of claim 9, wherein the polypeptide is a pharmaceutical compound.

11. The Deinococcus bacterium of claim 1, wherein the Deinococcus bacterium is selected from D. deserti; D. geothermalis; D. maricopensis; D. proteolyticus; D. radiodurans; D. murrayi; D. cellulolysiticus; D. guilhemensis; D. aquaticus; D. ficus; D. gobiensis; D. grandis; D. radiopugnans; or D. roseus, or any thermophile Deinococcus bacterium.

12. A method of producing a pharmaceutical and/or agro-chemical polypeptide of interest or an enzyme comprising culturing a bacterium according to claim 9 under conditions that permit the expression of a polypeptide encoded by a gene of interest encoding said pharmaceutical and/or agro-chemical polypeptide or said enzyme.