A race-specific insertion of transposable element IS801 in Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola

The isolation and cloning of a random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) band specific for Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola race 1 allowed us to design a pair of primers that amplify 1.2-kb race 1-specific and 2.7-kb race 2-specific fragments, providing a rapid method for the identification of races by standard PCR methods. Restriction analysis revealed identical endonuclease sites in both fragments but the race 2 fragment contains a 1.5-kb insertion, identified as transposable element IS801 by sequence comparison. One complete and one partial open reading frame (ORF), each with a high probability of encoding a protein, have been identified in the 1.2-kb fragment common to both race 1 and race 2 sequences. As IS801 disrupts the partial ORF in the race 2 fragment, the complete sequence of this ORF has been obtained as well as its promoter region. The possibility that it may encode an avirulence gene is discussed as well as the role of transposable elements in pathogen evolution.