Detection of luxA Gene on Plasmid DNA of Luminous Bacteria Vibrio campbellii STF1

Bacterial bioluminescence is emitted due to regulation by lux genes present on the chromosomal DNA. Earlier studies have attempted to find possible occurrence of lux genes on plasmid DNA (pDNA) but did not find such incident. Evidently, the present study reveals the rare incidence of luxA gene on pDNA analysed using polymerase chain reaction. We detected the 755 bp of luxA gene on plasmid DNA of luminous bacteria Vibrio campbellii strain STF1. We postulate that this rare evidence on the occurrence of luxA gene on pDNA might be due to horizontal gene transfer/gene integration and its role on pDNA is yet to be ascertained.