A new plasmid, pSP2, was constructed as a cloning vector for use in Streptococcus pneumoniae. It allows direct selection of recombinant plasmids, even for DNA fragments not homologous to the S. pneumoniae chromosome, as based on the failure to maintain long inverted repeats (LIRs) hyphen-free in bacterial plasmids. Plasmid pSP2 contains a 1.4-kb BamHI fragment ("hyphen") flanked by 1.9-kb LIRs. The removal of the 1.4-kb BamHI fragment followed by ligation creates a plasmid containing a 1.9-kb insert-free LIR; plasmids with such non-hyphenated LIRs were not established when transferred into S. pneumoniae. Replacement of the original 1.4-kb insert by other restriction fragments restored plasmid viability. Investigation of plasmid transfer by transformation suggests that intrastrand synapsis between the LIRs could occur, thus facilitating plasmid establishment (a process we call self-facilitation). Such an intrastrand synapsis could also account for rare occurrences of insert-inversion noticed upon transfer as well as for the formation of palindrome-deleted derivatives at low frequency. Plasmid pSP2 carries two selectable genes, tet and ermC, and can be used for cloning of fragments produced by a variety of restriction enzymes (BamHI, Bg/II, Bc/I or Sau3A, and Sa/I or XhoI).