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Camphor Plasmid-Mediated Chromosomal Transfer in Pseudomonas putida

^a Biochemistry Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801

ABSTRACT

Camphor-utilizing strains of Pseudomonas putida have been shown to carry the genetic information required for camphor degradation on a plasmid. The plasmid-carrying strains can serve as donors of both plasmid-borne and chromosomal genes. As recipients, plasmid-deleted strains are much superior to those carrying the camphor pathway genes. The transfer frequency of chromosomal, but not plasmid-borne, genes is markedly enhanced if the donor cells are irradiated with ultraviolet light followed by 3-h of growth on a rich medium in the dark. Recombinants selected for prototrophy are stable and most acquire the camphor (CAM) plasmid concomitantly; only a few of the Cam⁺ recombinants inherit the donor's ability to transfer chromosomal genes at a high frequency. Transfer-defective mutations occur on the CAM plasmid, affecting both CAM and chromosomal gene transfer.

¹ Present address: General Electric Research and Development Center, Schenectady, N.Y. 12301.