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Plasmids required for utilization of molecular hydrogen by Alcaligenes eutrophus

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Abstract

Alcaligenes eutrophus and three other hydrogen bacteria exposed to plasmid-curing agents generated autotrophic-minus mutants at high frequency. These mutants were blocked in the metabolism of H2 as an energy source and had normal levels of enzymes involved in CO2 fixation. The loss of hydrogenase activity in A. eutrophus was accompanied by the loss or alteration of a plasmid that had molecular weight of approximately 200×106. Mobilization of this plasmid from wild-type A. eutrophus strains into cured hydrogenase-minus derivatives restored hydrogenase function. It is concluded that A. eutrophus contains a large plasmid required for hydrogen metabolism and thereby autotrophic growth.

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Abbreviations

Aut:

autotrophic

Hup:

hydrogen uptake

NTG:

N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

RuBP:

ribulose bisphosphate

RuMP:

ribulose monophosphate

Kan:

kanamycin

Nal:

nalidixic acid

Rif:

rifampicin

Tet:

tetracycline

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Growth Laboratory, University of California, 95616, Davis, CA, USA

    Kjell Andersen, Robert C. Tait & William R. King

  2. Department of Agronomy and Range Science, University of California, 95616, Davis, CA, USA

    Kjell Andersen, Robert C. Tait & William R. King

Authors
  1. Kjell Andersen
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  2. Robert C. Tait
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  3. William R. King
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Andersen, K., Tait, R.C. & King, W.R. Plasmids required for utilization of molecular hydrogen by Alcaligenes eutrophus . Arch. Microbiol. 129, 384–390 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406468

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406468

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