Plasmid mediated metal and antibiotic resistance in marine Pseudomonas

Abstract

Pseudomonas sp isolated from the Bay of Bengal (Madras coast) contained a single large plasmid (pMR1) of 146 kb. Plasmid curing was not successful with mitomycin C, sodium dodecyl sulfate, acridine orange, nalidixic acid or heat. Transfer of mercury resistance from marine Pseudomonas to Escherichia coli occurred during mixed culture incubation in liquid broth at 10(-4) to 10(-5) ml(-1). However, transconjugants lacked the plasmid pMR1 and lost their ability to resist mercury. Transformation of pMR1 into E. coli competent cells was successful; however, the efficiency of transformation (1.49 x 10(2)Hgr transformants microsgm-1 pMR1 DNA) was low. E. coli transformants containing the plasmid pMR1 conferred inducible resistance to mercury, arsenic and cadmium compounds similar to the parental strain, but with increased expression. The mercury resistant transformants exhibited mercury volatilization activity. A correlation existed between metal and antibiotic resistance in the plasmid pMR1.