Isolation and screening of plasmids from the epilithon which mobilize recombinant plasmid pD10

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:7236291

Hill, K E; Weightman, A J; Fry, J C ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Wales, Cardiff (United Kingdom)

This study examined the potential of bacteria from river epilithon to mobilize a recombinant catabolic plasmid, pD10, encoding 3-chlorobenzoate degradation and kanamycin resistance. Fifty-four mobilizing plasmids were exogenously isolated by triparental matings between strains of Pseudomonas putida and epilithic bacteria from the River Taff (South Wales, United Kingdom). Frequencies for mobilization ranged from 1.7 {times} 10{sup {minus}8} to 4.5 {times} 10{sup {minus}3} per recipient at 20C. The sizes of the mobilizing plasmids isolated ranged from 40 kb to over 200 kb, and 19 of 54 were found to encode mercury resistance. Plasmid-encoded resistance from 40 kb to over 200 kb, and 19 of 54 were found to encode mercury resistance. Plasmid-encoded resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin was also found but not resistance to UV light or various heavy metals. Eight plasmids of epilithic bacteria, analyzed by comparing restriction fragmentation patterns, showed significant differences between those isolated from different independent matings. Optimal temperatures for mobilization of pD10 were between 15 and 25C. Four mercury resistance plasmids were found to be broad host range, transferring mercury resistance and mobilizing pD10 readily to representative species of {beta}- and {gamma}-purple bacteria. In general, frequencies of pD10 mobilization by plasmids of epilithic bacteria were 2 to 3 orders of magnitude lower than conjugal transfer frequencies. Thus, there is a high potential for exchange of recombinant genes introduced into the epilithon by mobilization between a variety of bacterial species.

• OSTI ID: 7236291
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States) Vol. 58:4; ISSN 0099-2240; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS
ANTIBIOTICS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOTECHNOLOGY
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DNA
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
GENETIC ENGINEERING
MERCURY
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLASMIDS
RADIATIONS
RECOMBINANT DNA
RIVERS
SCREENING
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
XENOBIOTICS