Gene escape model: Transfer of heavy metal resistance genes from Escherichia coli to Alcaligenes eutrophus on agar plates and in soil samples
- State Univ. of Ghent (Belgium) Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie, Mol (Belgium)
- Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie, Mol (Belgium)
- State Univ. of Ghent (Belgium)
Conjugal transfer from Escherichia coli to Alcaligenes eutrophus of the A. eutrophus genes coding for plasmid-borne resistance to cadmium, cobalt, and zinc (czc genes) was investigated on agar plates and in soil samples. This czc fragment is not expressed in the donor strain, E. coli, but it is expressed in the recipient strain, A. eutrophus. Hence, expression of heavy metal resistance by cells plated on a medium containing heavy metals represents escape of the czc genes. The two plasmids into which this DNA fragment has been cloned previously and which were used in these experiments are the nonconjugative, mobilizable plasmid pDN705 and the nonconjugative, nonmobilizable plasmid pMOL149. The results demonstrate that even genes incorporated into nonmobilizable plasmids can be exchanged between two different genera and that the presence of broad-host-range plasmids in putative recipients among soil bacteria could increase the risk of gene dissemination in case of release of genetically engineered microorganisms. The results also reveal that in certain soils, environmental conditions and particularly nutrient levels are conducive to gene transfer.
- OSTI ID:
- 5951252
- Journal Information:
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA), Vol. 56:8; ISSN 0099-2240
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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