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Plasmid DNA in colorless filamentous gliding bacteria

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Abstract

Thirteen strains of colorless, filamentous, gliding bacteria, at least five of which are sulfide oxidizers, were screened for the presence of plasmid DNA. Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that the sulfide oxidizing Beggiatoa alba strains B15LD (ATCC 33554), B18LD (ATCC 33555), and B25RD (ATCC 33556) each contained plasmids having molecular masses of ca. 12.8x106. Analysis of the EcoRI restriction endonuclease fragment patterns showed that the 12.8x106 plasmids in these three strains were similar. A single 8.1x106 plasmid was detected in cleared lysates of the mixotrophic sulfide oxidizer, Thiothrix nivea JP3. Two plasmid DNA bands were detected in cleared lysates of Beggiatoa spp. L-1401-2. Four plasmid DNA bands were detected in Vitreoscilla stercoraria strains ATCC 15218 and VT1. Plasmid DNA was not detected in the Beggiatoa strains ATCC 15551 and PD1, or in Vitreoscilla spp. 389 and V. beggiatoides B23SS. No apparent correlation was observed between the presence of certain plasmids and sulfide oxidation.

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Abbreviations

Tris:

tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane

EDTA:

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, disodium salt

TE:

Tris-EDTA

TEA:

Tris-EDTA-acetate-NaCl

TES:

Tris-EDTA-NaCl

CCC:

covalently closed circular

OC:

open circular

L:

linear

SDS:

sodium dodecyl sulfate

ATCC:

American Type Culture Collection

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Cathleen G. Minges, Jeffrey A. Titus & William R. Strohl

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  1. Cathleen G. Minges
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  2. Jeffrey A. Titus
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  3. William R. Strohl
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Minges, C.G., Titus, J.A. & Strohl, W.R. Plasmid DNA in colorless filamentous gliding bacteria. Arch. Microbiol. 134, 38–44 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429404

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429404

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