Characterization of plasmid pAZ1 and the type III dihydrofolate reductase gene

Abstract

The plasmid pAZ1, which determines trimethoprim and sulfonamide resistance, was characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping. The restriction map was identical to that of the incQ plasmid RSF1010 over a 5.1-kbp region. The type III dihydrofolate reductase gene was cloned, and the DNA sequence was determined. The predicted protein had 162 amino acid residues, and it was more closely related to the gram-negative bacterial chromosomal dihydrofolate reductases than to other plasmid or vertebrate dihydrofolate reductases. Sequence identity was 51% with the Escherichia coli enzyme and 44% with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae enzyme.