title: Nucleotide sequence, organization and characterization of the (halo)aromatic acid catabolic plasmid pA81 from Achromobacter xylosoxidans A8.
abstract: The complete 98,192bp nucleotide sequence was determined for plasmid pA81, which is harbored by the haloaromatic acid-degrading bacterium Achromobacter xylosoxidans A8. The majority of the 103 open reading frames identified on pA81 could be categorized as either "backbone" genes, genes encoding (halo)aromatic compound degradation, or heavy metal resistance determinants. The backbone genes controlled conjugative transfer, replication and plasmid stability, and were well conserved with other IncP1-beta plasmids. Genes encoding (halo)aromatic degradation were clustered within a type I transposon, TnAxI, and included two ring-hydroxylating oxygenases (ortho-halobenzoate oxygenase, salicylate 5-hydroxylase) and a modified ortho-cleavage pathway for chlorocatechol degradation. The cluster of heavy metal resistance determinants was contained within a Type II transposon TnAxII, and included a predicted P-type ATPase and cation diffusion facilitator system. Genes identical to those carried by TnAxI and TnAxII were identified on other biodegradative/resistance plasmids and genomic islands, indicating an evolutionary relationship between these elements. Collectively, these insights further our understanding of how mobile elements, and interactions between mobile elements affect the fate of organic and inorganic toxicants in the environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jencova
authors.forename: Hynek
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strnad
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chodora
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ulbrich
authors.forename: Cestmir
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vlcek
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hickey
authors.forename: Vaclav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paces
mesh_terms: D042441:Achromobacter denitrificans / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000378:metabolism*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D010105:Oxygenases; C099614:salicylic acid 5-hydroxylase