title: Phenotypic and physiological changes in Acinetobacter sp. strain DR1 with exogenous plasmid.
abstract: The genus Acinetobacter has been recognized to take up exogenous DNA from the environment. In this study, we conducted natural transformation with a novel diesel-degrading Acinetobacter sp. strain, designated strain DR1, using the broad host range plasmid pRK415. Many factors, including temperature, quantities of DNA, and aeration have proven critically important for efficient natural transformation. Interestingly, the Acinetobacter sp. strain DR1 (pRK415) differed both phenotypically and physiologically from the wild-type strain in several regards, including motility, biofilm formation ability, and responses to oxidative stress: the transformed cells were rendered more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide, and their motilities and biofilm formation activity were also attenuated. Our data demonstrated that caution should be exercised when conducting genetic manipulation with plasmids, due to the possibility that phenotypic and physiological changes in the host might occur along with the uptake of plasmids.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Anam-Dong 5 Ga, 136-713, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jungsoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Woojun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000633:toxicity; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D005838:Genotype; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D008124:Locomotion; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C007164:cumene hydroperoxide