[Bacillus thuringiensis plasmid DNA]

Plasmid DNAs were isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis and their physico-chemical properties were studied. The DNAs were purified using ultracentrifugation in a CsCl2 density gradient. The molecular weight of these extrachromosomal DNAs determined by electrophoresis in 0.6% agarose gel and by electron microscopy was 6 . 10(6)--10 . 10(6) daltons; a DNA with a molecular weight of 90 . 10(6) daltons was also found. Digestion with restriction endonuclease EcoRI yielded fragments of the plasmid DNAs with cohesive ends; these were further identified by means of electrophoresis in 1% agarose gel.