Open AccessGenomic plasticity and catabolic potential of Pseudomonas cepacia
Author(s) -
T G Lessie
Publication year - 1996
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/224251
Subject(s) - burkholderia , pseudomonas , biology , proteobacteria , bacteria , subclass , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genome , rhizosphere , 16s ribosomal rna , antibody
The primary goal of this project was to gain information about the size and organization of the genome of Burkholderia cepacia (formerly Pseudomonas cepacia), a microbe which continues to attract attention because of its extraordinary degradative abilities and potential as an agent of bioremediation. This bacterium is no longer considered to be a member of genus Pseudomonas nor does it belong in the gamma-subclass of the proteobacteria, in which the authentic pseudomonads are grouped. It belongs in the less well characterized beta-subclass of the proteobacteria. Technology for manipulation of large DNA fragments developed by Cantor was used to demonstrate that chromosomal multiplicity, a characteristic yet to be observed in a gamma-subclass bacterium, is common among B. cepacia strains. A derivative of Tn5 suitable for determining the chromosomal locations of various B. cepacia genes was also constructed