Localization of Genes Involved in Exopolysaccharide Biosynthesis in Zoogloea ramigera 115SLR

Abstract

Mutants having altered levels and/or types of EPS in exopolysaccharide biosynthesis were isolated after NTG mutagenesis of Zoogloea ramigera 115SLR. Mutant candidates were classfied with five groups based on the observed characteristics for EPS biosynthesis pattern. The recombinant plasmids pLEX3BS and pLEX3BM were constructed from pEX3B which was previously isolated from genomic DNA of Z. ramigera 115SLR. Plasmid pLEX3BM with a 7.8 kb insert DNA contains an additional 1.8kb DNA fragment which is not present in pLEX3BS containing 13 kb insert DNA. Plasmid pLEX3BM was able to complement the mutation responsible for the changes in morphology of Z. ramigera 115SLR. However, the complementation of EPS negative mutant strains was not successful with pLEX3BM. Plasmid pLEX3BS on the other hand complemented the mutation responsible for the loss of EPS biosynthesis, resulting in the restoration of Z. ramigera 115SLR phenotype. But this plasmid was not able to complement the morphological mutant strain, Z. ramigera 115SLR.

Keywords

• gene cloning;
• Zoogloea ramigera;
• complementation;
• exopolysaccharide biosynthesis;
• morphology