Restriction endonuclease mapping of a Rhizobium leguminosarum Sym plasmid

A circular map of the Sym plasmid pRle1001a corresponding to a genome size of 150 × 10⁶ D was established using the restriction endonucleases HpaI, SmaI, and KpnI. The map was derived from the results obtained by hybridizing individual HpaI fragments to blotted SmaI and KpnI digests of the plasmid. A complete map of the HpaI fragments was constructed in this way. Regions of homology with the structural nif-genes D and H of Klebsiella pneumoniae, with the Sym plasmid of Rhizobium trifolii 5, and with an octopine and nopaline Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens were mapped. A large area of plasmid pRle1001a, which carries nif structural genes, is highly conserved in the Sym plasmid of R. trifolii 5. It is assumed that this could be an area carrying genes involved in various functions that play a role in the process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.