Hfr

An hfr cell (also called hfr strain) is a bacterium with a conjugative plasmid (often F) integrated into its genomic DNA. Hfr is the abbreviation for high frequency recombination, which was first characterized by Luca Cavalli-Sforza. Unlike a normal F+ cell, hfr strains will, upon conjugation with a F− cell, attempt to transfer their entire DNA through the mating bridges (called pili) to the F− cell. This occurs because the F factor has integrated itself via an insertion point in the bacterial chromosome. Due to the F factor's inherent nature to transfer itself over the pilus during bacteria conjugation, the rest of the bacterial genome is dragged along with it, thus making such cells very useful and interesting in terms of studying gene linkage and recombination. Because the genome's rate of transfer through the pilus is constant, molecular biologists and geneticists can use Hfr strain of bacteria (often E. coli) to study genetic linkage and map the chromosome. The procedure commonly used for this is called interrupted mating. A bacterium may undergo conjugation. During this process, genetic material is transferred to another bacterium through the sex pili. To form sex pili and donate DNA during conjugation, an F plasmid is required. The F plasmid consists of around 25 genes which are mostly required for the production of the sex pili. F+ denotes cells that contain the F plasmid, while F− cells do not. The F plasmid is considered to be an episome which may become integrated into the main chromosome. When the F genes become integrated into the chromosome, the cell is said to be Hfr (high frequency of recombination). An Hfr cell may transfer F genes to an F− cell. During this transfer of genetic material, the F episome may take chromosomal DNA with it. The donor cell does not lose any genetic material as anything transferred is also replicated concurrently. It is extremely rare that an Hfr cell's chromosome is transferred in its entirety. Homologous recombination occurs when the newly acquired DNA crosses over with the homologous region of its own chromosome.
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A male bacterial cell that has the F factor integrated into its chromosome is an Hfr (high frequency of recombination) cell. Crosses between Hfr cells and F- females produce far more recombinant progeny than do crosses between F+ males and F- females.