The atzABC Genes Encoding Atrazine Catabolism Are Located on a Self-Transmissible Plasmid in Pseudomonas sp. Strain ADP

Abstract

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP initiates atrazine catabolism via three enzymatic steps, encoded by atzA , - B , and - C , which yield cyanuric acid, a nitrogen source for many bacteria. In-well lysis, Southern hybridization, and plasmid transfer studies indicated that the atzA , - B , and - C genes are localized on a 96-kb self-transmissible plasmid, pADP-1, in Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP. High-performance liquid chromatography analyses showed that cyanuric acid degradation was not encoded by pADP-1. pADP-1 was transferred to Escherichia coli strains at a frequency of 4.7 × 10 −2 . This suggests a potential molecular mechanism for the dispersion of the atzABC genes to other soil bacteria.