[Determinant of plasmid pBS221 resistance to potassium tellurite]

The genes regulating resistance to potassium tellurite were cloned from plasmid pS221 with a broad host range. The studied DNA fragment encodes for the synthesis of two polypeptides with molecular mass of 38 and 43 kD. Metal tellurium crystals were localized in the periplasm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ML4262 (pBS221) cells by electron microscopy. Results of colony hybridization permit us to propose that the cloned genes of potassium tellurite resistance have sites of homology with plasmids RP4(IncP), R27 (IncH), pBS38, pBS79, and R931(IncP-2).