Inorganic salts resistance associated with a lactose-fermenting plasmid in Streptococcus lactis

Journal Article · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1976 · J. Bacteriol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6168215

Efstathiou, J D; McKay, L L

Present evidence indicates that lactose metabolism in group N streptococci is linked to plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid. Lactose-positive (Lac/sup +/) Streptococcus lactis and lactose-negative (Lac/sup -/) derivatives were examined for their resistance to various inorganic ions. Lac/sup +/ S. lactis strains ML3, M18, and C2 were found more resistant to arsenate (7.5- to 60.2-fold), arsenite (2.25- to 30.-fold), and chromate (6.6- to 9.4-fold), but more sensitive to copper (10.0- to 13.3-fold) than their Lac/sup -/ derivatives. These results suggested that genetic information for resistance and/or sensitivity to these ions resides on the lactose plasmid. Kinetics of ultraviolet irradiation inactivation of transducing ability for lactose metabolism and arsenate resistance confirmed the plasmid location of the two markers. Lac/sup +/ transductants from S. lactis C2 received genetic determinants for resistance to arsenate, arsenite, and chromate but not for copper sensitivity. In this case, resistance markers were lost when the transductants became Lac/sup -/ but the derivatives remained copper resistant. The resistance markers for arsenate and arsenite could not be identified as separate genetic loci, but chromate resistance and copper sensitivity markers were found to be independent genetic loci. The lactose plasmid from S. lactis C10 possessed the genetic loci for arsenate and arsenite resistance but not for chromate resistance or copper sensitivity. 18 references, 5 figures, 3 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul
• OSTI ID: 6168215
• Journal Information: J. Bacteriol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Bacteriol.; (United States) Vol. 130:1; ISSN JOBAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARSENIC
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOLOGY
CARBOHYDRATES
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHROMIUM
COPPER
DATA
DISACCHARIDES
DNA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GENETICS
INFORMATION
LACTOSE
METABOLISM
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
NUMERICAL DATA
OLIGOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLASMIDS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SACCHARIDES
SEMIMETALS
SENSITIVITY
STREPTOCOCCUS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION