Molecular sizes and relationships of TOL plasmids in Pseudomonas

Plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid was isolated from thirteen Pseudomonas strains judged on genetic criteria to carry plasmids coding for the degradation of toluene and m- and p-xylenes (TOL plasmids). Most strains carried a single species, but two strains carried two size classes, and cells of a third strain contained plasmids ranging in size from 25 X 10(6) to 202 X 10(6) daltons. Some plasmids could be transformed into a Pseudomonas putida strain to yield Tol+ progeny. Plasmids from 5 of the 13 strains were indistinguishable on the basis of size and gel pattern of fragments after endonuclease digestion.