Plasmid-encoded mercury resistance in a Pseudomonas stutzeri strain that degrades o-xylene

Abstract A Pseudomonas stutzeri strain, previously isolated for its ability to utilize o -xylene, bears a plasmid, pPB, of about 80 kbp. pPB was found to encode resistance to mercuric chloride and organomercury compounds. Loss of the plasmid resulted in a simultaneous loss of the metal resistance, but not of the ability to degrade o -xylene. Transfer of the Hg^r phenotype to an Hg^s strain was achieved by mobilizing pPB with RP4. Mercury reductase activity was induced by mercuric chloride and by phenylmercuric acetate and Thimerosal. pPB may be considered a broad spectrum resistance plasmid.