Quantifying and Characterizing Distributive Conjugal Transfer in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in prokaryotes disseminates genetic information throughout a population and can facilitate adaptation and evolution of the species. Mycobacteria utilize an atypical method of conjugation called distributive conjugal transfer (DCT), which results in mosaic genomes and the potential for accelerated evolution beyond that enabled by the more classical oriT-mediated conjugation. The following is a description of the basic DCT protocol, some possible variations of the assay, and examples of downstream applications to better understand mycobacterial functions.