The atzABC genes encoding atrazine catabolism are located on a self-transmissible plasmid in Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP.
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 x 10(-2). This suggests a potential molecular mechanism for the dispersion of the atzABC genes to other soil bacteria.
de Souza
M L
ML
Department of Biochemistry, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA.
Wackett
L P
LP
Sadowsky
M J
MJ
D001280:Atrazine / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006540:Herbicides / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism; D014227:Triazines / Q000378:metabolism
D006540:Herbicides; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014227:Triazines; C004632:cyanuric acid; D001280:Atrazine