Identification of nah-1 genes of the Pseudomonas putida naphthalene-degrading NPL-41 plasmid operon

Pseudomonas putida BS202 degrades naphthalene via a plasmid-encoded catabolic pathway. The nucleotide sequence of the nahC gene encoding one of this pathway enzymes, 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenase, has been determined. Analysis of nucleotide sequence of its flanking regions identified partially the nahF and putative nahQ genes. Comparison of these three genes with corresponding ones in the NAH7 plasmid and DOX operon showed a high degree of homology.     

The specific growth rate of Pseudomonas putida PAW1 influences the conjugal transfer rate of the TOL plasmid.

The kinetics of the conjugal transfer of a TOL plasmid were investigated by using Pseudomonas putida PAW1 as the donor strain and P. aeruginosa PAO 1162 as the recipient strain. Short-term batch mating experiments were performed in a nonselective medium, while the evolution of the different cell types was determined by selective plating techniques. The experimental data were analyzed by using a mass action model that describes plasmid transfer kinetics. This method allowed analysis of the mating experiments by a single intrinsic kinetic parameter for conjugal plasmid transfer. Further results indicated that the specific growth rate of the donor strain antecedent to the mating experiment had a strong impact on the measured intrinsic plasmid transfer rate coefficient, which ranged from 1 x 10(-14) to 5 x 10(-13) ml per cell per min. Preliminary analysis suggested that the transfer rates of the TOL plasmid are large enough to maintain the TOL plasmid in a dense microbial community without selective pressures.     

Identification of the coding region for the putidaredoxin reductase gene from the plasmid of Pseudomonas putida

The first 12 NH₂-terminal amino acids of the Pseudomonas putida putidaredoxin reductase were shown to be Met-Asn-Ala-Asn-Asp-Asn-Val-Val-Ile-Val-Gly-Thr. Comparison of these data with the DNA sequence of the BamHI-HindIII 197-base fragment derived from the PstI 2.2-kb fragment obtained from the P. putida plasmid showed that the putidaredoxin reductase gene was downstream from the cytochrome P-450 gene and the intergenic region had the 24-nucleotide sequence TAAACACATGGGAGTGCGTGCTAA. The Shine-Dalgarno sequence GGAG was detected in this region. The initiating triplet for the reductase gene was GTG, which normally codes for valine, but in the initiating codon position codes for methionine. From the amino acid sequence and X-ray data comparisons with other flavoproteins, what appears to be the AMP binding region of the FAD can be recognized in the NH₂-terminal portion of the reductase involving residues 5–35.     

Dual labeling of Pseudomonas putida with fluorescent proteins for in situ monitoring of conjugal transfer of the TOL plasmid

We describe here a dual-labeling technique involving the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the red fluorescent protein (DsRed) for in situ monitoring of horizontal gene transfer via conjugation. A GFPmut3b-tagged derivative of narrow-host-range TOL plasmid (pWWO) was delivered to Pseudomonas putida KT2442, which was chromosomally labeled with dsRed by transposon insertion via biparental mating. Green and red fluorescent proteins were coexpressed in donor P. putida cells. Cells expressing both fluorescent proteins were smaller in size than cells expressing GFP alone. Donors and transconjugants in mixed culture or sludge samples were discriminated on the basis of their fluorescence by using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Conjugal plasmid transfer frequencies on agar surfaces and in sludge microcosms were determined microscopically without cultivation. This method worked well for in situ monitoring of horizontal gene transfer in addition to tracking the fate of microorganisms released into complex environments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that discusses the coexpression of GFP and DsRed for conjugal gene transfer studies.     

Stability and conjugal transfer kinetics of a TOL plasmid in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO 1162

Abstract Batch mating experiments were employed to study the kinetics of the conjugal transfer of a TOL plasmid, using the transconjugant strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO 1162 (TOL) as the plasmid donor and Pseudomonas putida PB 2442 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO 1162N as the plasmid recipients. Transfer rates from PAO 1162 (TOL) to PAO 1162N and PB 2442 measured for exponentially grown PAO 1162 (TOL) were 1.81 × 10⁻¹⁴ (standard error (S.E.) 1.25 × 10⁻¹⁵) ml·cell⁻¹min⁻¹ and 3.32 × 10⁻¹³ (S.E. 4.42 × 10⁻¹⁴) ml·cell⁻¹min⁻¹, respectively. The instability of the TOL plasmid in PAO 1162 (TOL) was evaluated under conditions that were non-selective for maintenance of the TOL catabolic functions. The measured rates of instability were 6.7 10⁻⁶ to 8.3 10⁻⁶ min⁻¹, and the loss of the catabolic functions was mainly caused by structural instability of the plasmid.     

Conjugal transfer of a TOL-like plasmid and extension of the catabolic potential of Pseudomonas putida F1

Strain mX was isolated from a petrol-contaminated soil, after enrichment on minimal medium with 0.5% (v/v) meta-xylene as a sole carbon source. The strain was tentatively characterized as Pseudomonas putida and harboured a large plasmid (pMX) containing xyl genes involved in toluene or meta-xylene degradation pathways via an alkyl monooxygenase and a catechol 2,3-dioxygenase. This new TOL-like plasmid was stable over two hundred generations and was self-transferable. After conjugal transfer to P. putida F1, which possesses the Tod chromosomal toluene biodegradative pathway, the transconjugant P. putida F1(pMX) was able to grow on benzene, toluene, meta-xylene, para-xylene, and ethylbenzene compounds as the sole carbon sources. Catechol 2,3-dioxygenases of the transconjugant cells presented a more relaxed substrate specificity than those of parental cells (strain mX and P. putida F1).     

Identification of cistrons involved in conjugal transfer of narrow-host-range R plasmid R91-5 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The development of a transductional method for complementation tests between transfer-deficient mutants of the narrow-host-range R plasmic R91-5 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has allowed the indentification of cistrons involved in the conjugal transfer of this plasmid. Complementation tests performed between transfer-deficient mutants characterized phenotypically with respect to sensitivity to donor-specific phage, ability to inhibit the replication of phage G101, and expression of entry-exclusion has identified a minimum of 10 transfer cistrons. Although most mutagen-induced mutants were relatively heterogeneous and appeared to be affected in a single cistron only, a high proportion of mutants isolated after selection for donor-specific phage resistance had deletions but always included tra Y. Mutants selected directly on the basis of transfer deficiency which also became donor-specific phage resistant fell into all 10 cistrons, suggesting that many R91-5 transfer cistrons are concerned with the synthesis of sex pili and other surface structures necessary for conjugal transfer. Conversely, most retaining donor-specific phage sensitivity belonged to one cistron, whereas transfer-deficient mutants which had also lost the ability to inhibit the replication of phage G101 comprised four cistrons.     

Isolation of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid from Pseudomonas putida.

Conditions suitable for reproducible recovery of covalently closed circular deoxyribonucleic acid from strains of Pseudomonas putida containing degradative plasmids (CAM, SAL, OCT, etc.) have been defined. These degradative plasmids could not be isolated by the usual procedure, whereas RP1, an R factor of the P group, present in the isogenic strain of P. putida, was isolated equally well by either the usual procedure or the modified procedure. Characterization by electron microscopy of RP1 deoxyribonucleic acid confirmed the molecular weight (about 40 X 10(6)) previously determined by sucrose gradient centrifugation.     

Two distinct conjugal transfer systems on Streptomyces plasmid pZL1

The mechanism of conjugal transfer of plasmids in Gram-negative and unicellular Gram-positive bacteria is commonly via a type IV secretion system （T4SS） [1]. The genes encoding the T4S proteins are usually arranged in a single operon or a few operons. In Gram-negative Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the T4SS is encoded by the virB and virD operons （11 and 5 genes, respectively） [2]. Streptomyces are multicellular mycelial Gram-positive bac- teria that form unicellular spores. There are fundamental dif- ferences in the mechanisms of conjugal transfer between Streptomyces plasmids and those of Gram-negative and uni- cellular Gram-positive bacteria. Conjugal transfer of Streptomyces plasmids requires a tra gene encoding an FtsK/SpolIIE-family DNA translocator and a few adjacent genes [3]. No bacterial T4SS has previously been found on Streptomyces conjugative plasmids. We reported here the co- existence of both a T4SS-like and an FtsK/SpolIIE-family DNA translocator on a 128-kb Streptomyces plasmid, pZL 1.     

Characteristics of Pseudomonas putida plasmid DNAs

Physico-chemical characteristics of plasmid DNAs isoalted from Pseudomonas putida G7 were studied as well as the behavior of these DNAs in th eourse of chromatography on columns with Sepharose 4B and kieselguhr with methylated albumin (MAC). This strain was found to contain several plasmid DNAs having molecular weights of 33-36X10(6), 15-18X10(6), and 3-5X10(6) dalton. The plasmid DNAs of biodegradation are supposed to be located in the vicinity of chromosomes, and only a small part of them is characterized by extrachromosomal localization.     

Identification of Pseudomonas alcaligenes chromosomal DNA in the plasmid DNA of the chlorobenzene-degrading recombinant Pseudomonas putida strain CB1-9

The recombinant Pseudomonas putida strain CB1-9, which acquired the ability to grow on chlorobenzenes, contains a 33-kilobase (kb) plasmid (pKFL3) which lacked homology to an indigenous 15-kb plasmid (pKFL1) in Pseudomonas alcaligenes C-0 parent but was homologous to a 55-kb plasmid (pKFL2) from the P. putida R5-3 parent. Chromosomal DNA of P. alcaligenes C-0 hybridized to probes prepared from pKFL3 but not to probes prepared from pKFL2. A single clone from a genomic library of P. alcaligenes C-0 hybridized to EcoRI-digested pKFL3. Southern blot hybridization with the insert DNA from that clone identified homology with specific restriction enzyme fragments in pKFL3. The ability of the recombinant to utilize 3-chlorobenzoate, chlorobenzene, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene as well as its loss of utilization of xylenes and methylbenzoates appears to be associated with the transfer and integration of chromosomal DNA from P. alcaligenes into a Tol-like plasmid of P. putida R5-3.     

Identification of Pseudomonas alcaligenes chromosomal DNA in the plasmid DNA of the chlorobenzene-degrading recombinant Pseudomonas putida strain CB1-9.

The recombinant Pseudomonas putida strain CB1-9, which acquired the ability to grow on chlorobenzenes, contains a 33-kilobase (kb) plasmid (pKFL3) which lacked homology to an indigenous 15-kb plasmid (pKFL1) in Pseudomonas alcaligenes C-0 parent but was homologous to a 55-kb plasmid (pKFL2) from the P. putida R5-3 parent. Chromosomal DNA of P. alcaligenes C-0 hybridized to probes prepared from pKFL3 but not to probes prepared from pKFL2. A single clone from a genomic library of P. alcaligenes C-0 hybridized to EcoRI-digested pKFL3. Southern blot hybridization with the insert DNA from that clone identified homology with specific restriction enzyme fragments in pKFL3. The ability of the recombinant to utilize 3-chlorobenzoate, chlorobenzene, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene as well as its loss of utilization of xylenes and methylbenzoates appears to be associated with the transfer and integration of chromosomal DNA from P. alcaligenes into a Tol-like plasmid of P. putida R5-3.     

Molecular characterization of Salmonella weltevreden isolated from poultry: evidence of conjugal transfer of plasmid and antibiotic resistance

Ten strains of Salmonella weltevreden isolated from poultry sources were examined and found to contain plasmid DNA ranging in size from 1.8 to 68.5 MD. All isolates were susceptible to carbenicillin, cephalothin, ceftriazone, gentamicin, kanamycin and nalidixic acid, but resistance to bacitracin (100%), penicillin G (100%), rifampicin (100%), sulphamethoxazole (100%), cefuroxime (80%) and tetracycline (60%) was recorded. The 55 MD plasmid of strain SW5 determined resistance to penicillin G and tetracycline, which was transmissible to the E. coli K12 recipient at a frequency of 3.52 x 10(-5) transconjugants per input donor cell. The results of arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR), using two 10-mer oligonucleotides and PCR-ribotyping to differentiate between the ten strains of S. weltevreden were compared. The strains were separated into ten different genome types by AP-PCR but were indistinguishable by PCR-ribotyping. These results suggest that poultry may constitute a reservoir for disseminating antibiotic resistance and that AP-PCR may be a valuable tool for epidemiological studies.     

Purification and characterization of methioninase from Pseudomonas putida.

Methioninase of Pseudomonas putida was purified to homogeneity, as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with a specific activity 270-fold higher than that of the crude extract. 1. The purified enzyme had an S20,w of 8.37, a molecular weight of 160,000, and an isoelectric point of 5.6. 2. A break in the Arrhenius plot was observed at 40 degrees and the activation energies below and above this temperature were 15.5 and 2.97 kcal per mole, respectively. 3. In addition to L-methionine, various S-substituted derivatives of homocysteine and cysteine could serve as substrates. D-Methionine, 2-oxo-4-methylthiobutanoate, and related non sulfur-containing amino acids were inert. Equimolar formation of alpha-ketobutyrate and CH3SH was observed with methionine as a substrate. 4. In addition to the protein peak at 278 nm, two absorption maxima were observed at 345 and 430 nm at pH 7.5. Hydroxylamine removed the enzyme-bound pyridoxal phosphate, resulting in almost complete resolution with the concomitant disappearance of both peaks. Reconstruction of the treated enzyme could be achieved by addition of the cofactor; the Km value was calculated to be 0.37 muM. 5. The reported purified enzyme should be designated as L-methionine methanethiollyase (deaminating).     

Purification and characterization of adhesive exopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas fluorescens

In this study, the adhesive exopolysaccharides of strains of Pseudomonas putida and P. fluorescens, both isolated from freshwater epilithic communities, were examined with regard to their chemical composition, biosynthesis, and their role in adhesion. Electron microscopy showed that both strains were enrobed in fibrous glycocalyces and that these structures were involved in attachment of the cells to a solid surface and as structural matrices in the microcolony mode of growth. In batch culture experiments most of the extracellular polysaccharide of both strains was found to be soluble in the growth medium rather than being associated with bacterial cells. Exopolysaccharide was synthesized during all phases of growth, but when growth was limited by exhaustion of the carbon source, exopolysaccharide synthesis ceased whereas exopolysaccharide synthesis continued for some time after cessation of growth in nitrogen-limited cultures. Exopolysaccharide from both strains was isolated and purified. Pseudomonas putida synthesized an exopolysaccharide composed of glucose, galactose, and pyruvate in a ratio of 1:1:1; the P. fluorescens polymer contained glucose, galactose, and pyruvate in a ratio of 1:1:0.5, respectively. Polymers from both strains were acetylated to a variable degree.     

Purification and characterization of glyoxalase I from Pseudomonas putida

Glyoxalase I was purified to apparent homogeneity from Pseudomonas putida. The enzyme was a monomer with a molecular weight of 20,000. The enzyme was most active at pH 8.0. The Km values for methylglyoxal and 4,5-dioxovale-rate are 3.5 mM and 1.2 mM, respectively. Contrary to the case of eukaryotic enzymes, chelating agents showed little inhibitory effects on the enzyme activity. Among the metal ions tested, Zn++ specifically and completely inhibited the activity of the enzyme at a millimolar level. The properties of bacterial glyoxalase I were quite different from mammalian and yeast enzymes.     

Transformation and expression of plasmid from Nocardioides sp. to Pseudomonas putida

Nocardioides sp. isolated from contaminated soil showed the presence of sulphur oxidizing (SO) genes in the plasmid pSB1 (34·2 kb). The presence of SO genes was confirmed by transformation to a plasmid-free Pseudomonas putida strain followed by hybridization studies.     

Electroporation and conjugal plasmid transfer to members of the genus Aquaspirillum

Electroporation methods and conjugal matings were used to transfer several plasmid vectors to Aquaspirillum dispar and Aquaspirillum itersonii. The incompatibility P class plasmid RP4 was conjugally transferred from Escherichia coli HB101 to these spirilla, and the transconjugants subsequently donated the molecule to plasmid-free E. coli and A. dispar strains via conjugal matings. High-voltage electrotransformation was used to transfer plasmids pUCD2, pSa151 and RP4 to A. dispar and A. itersonii, at efficiencies as high as 3×10⁴ transformants per μg plasmid DNA. RP4 DNA isolated from spirillum hosts, but not RP4 from E. coli cells was successfully transferred to A. dispar and A. itersonii by electrotransformation, suggesting that modification and/or restriction activity may be present in these Aquaspirillum species.