title: Possible involvement of plasmids in degradation of malathion and chlorpyriphos by Micrococcus sp.
abstract: Two plasmid-harboring strains of Micrococcus sp. (M-36 and AG-43) degrade malathion and chlorpyriphos. Derivatives of the strains (SDS-36 and AO-43) treated with acridine orange and sodium dodecyl sulfate could not utilize malathion and chlorpyriphos for growth as the sole carbon source. Agarose gel electrophoresis of cell extracts of M-36 and AG-43 revealed the presence of a plasmid which was absent in SDS-36 and AO-43--suggesting probable involvement of plasmids in the degradation of malathion and chlorpyriphos by M-36 and AG-43. Nalidixic acid resistance in M-36 was also lost upon elimination of plasmids.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, Regional Research Laboratory, Jorhat, Assam, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guha
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Bora
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D000165:Acridine Orange / Q000494:pharmacology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004390:Chlorpyrifos / Q000378:metabolism*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D008294:Malathion / Q000378:metabolism*; D008837:Micrococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009268:Nalidixic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000378:metabolism*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000502:physiology*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D009268:Nalidixic Acid; D000165:Acridine Orange; D004390:Chlorpyrifos; D008294:Malathion