| Abstract |
Three strains of bacteria utilizing salicylate, KU801(pKU5, pKU8), KU803(pKU6, pKU9), and KU806(pKU7, pKU10), were selected from the isolates and identified as Pseudomonas putida. By agarose gel electrophoresis, it was found that the strains had two plasmids each. All three strains were resistant to antibiotics such as ampicillin, tetracyclin, and chloramphenicol, and did not utilize other aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons examined except salicylate. The plasmids (pKU5, pKU6, and pKU7) of larger molecular weight were cured by treatment with mitomycin C and frequencies of curing were 0.4%, 1.67%, and 0.75%, respectively. Cured strains did not degrade salicylate and still had antibiotic resistances, which were identical with wild strains. The genes for salicylate degradation were proved to be encoded on their plasmids. The molecular weights of pKU5 and pKU6 were estimated as 103.5Md, and that of pKU 7 as 101 Md. The new SAL plasmids, pKU5, pKU6, and pKU7 were transferred to P. putida and P. aeruginosa, but not to E. coli. |
