Stability of the delta-endotoxin gene from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki in a recombinant strain of Clavibacter xyli subsp. cynodontis

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol. 57; no. 12; pp. 3522 - 3528
• Main Authors: Turner, J.T. (Crop Genetics International, Hanover, MD), Lampel, J.S, Stearman, R.S, Sundin, G.W, Gunyuzlu, P, Anderson, J.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01.12.1991
• Subjects: BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS; Bacillus thuringiensis - genetics; Bacterial Proteins; Bacterial Toxins; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Blotting, Southern; Containment of Biohazards; CORYNEBACTERIUM; DNA, Recombinant; ENDOTOXINAS; ENDOTOXINE; Endotoxins - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENE; GENES; Genetic engineering; Genetic technics; GENIE GENETIQUE; Gram-Positive Bacteria - genetics; Gram-Positive Bacteria - growth & development; Hemolysin Proteins; INGENIERIA GENETICA; Kanamycin Resistance - genetics; Kinetics; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Modification of gene expression level; NUCLEOTIDE; NUCLEOTIDOS; Phenotype; Plants - microbiology; PLASMIDE; PLASMIDIOS; Plasmids; RECOMBINACION; RECOMBINAISON; Tetracycline Resistance - genetics; Transformation, Bacterial; Recombinant microorganism; Recombination; Stability; Bacillaceae; Gene expression; Endotoxin; Plasmid; Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki; Bacillales; Gene; Deletion; Bacteria; Actinomycetes
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/AEM.57.12.3522-3528.1991

Deletion of chromosomally, inserted gene sequences from Clavibacter xyli subsp. cynodontis, a xylem. inhabiting endophyte, was studied in vitro and in planta. We found that nonreplicating plasmid pCG610, which conferred resistance to kanamycin and tetracycline and contained segments of C. xyli subsp. cynodontis genomic DNA, integrated into a homologous sequence in the bacterial chromosome. In addition, pCG610 contains two copies of the gene encoding the CryIA(c) insecticidal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD73. Using drug resistance phenotypes and specific DNA probes, we found that the loss of all three genes arose both in vitro under nonselective conditions and in planta. The resulting segregants are probably formed by recombination between the repeated DNA sequences flanking pCG610 that resulted from the integration event into the chromosome. Eventually, segregants predominated in the bacterial population. The loss of the integrated plasmid from C. xyli subsp. cynodontis revealed a possible approach for decreasing the environmental consequences of recombinant bacteria for agricultural use