Broad host range vectors derived from an RSF1010::Tn1 plasmid

Plasmid vector derivatives of the IncQ/P4 plasmid RSF1010 available for cloning DNA into a broad range of bacterial species were constructed. The plasmid pAYC31 constructed for the positive selection of inserted fragments contains part of transposon Tn1 inserted into the sequence of the gene sul. Gene aph transcription in pAYC31 can be initiated from the promoter for the transposase gene tnpA which is under the negative control of the gene tnpR product (Heffron, 1983). The insertion of a BamHI fragment, or of fragments generated by Sau3A, BclI, BglII, or XhoII digestion into the unique BamHI site within the gene tnpR sequence, leads to initiation of transcription from the promoter of the tnpA gene toward the aph gene. Expression of the aph gene upon insertion of a BamHI restriction fragment provides a positive selection for hybrid plasmids by plating the transformed bacteria on media with streptomycin. Versatile cloning vectors pAYC32 of 9.7 kb in length and pAYC39 of 11.3 kb in length were also constructed. Insertion into the BamHI site of vector pAYC32 of a 1.6-kb BglII fragment that contains the λ cos site produced cosmid vectors pAYC51 and pAYC52. The two 11.3-kb cosmids differ only by the orientation of the 1.6-kb BglII fragment. By insertion into the BamHI site of pAYC32 of a BglII- BamHI fragment of plasmid pHC79 that contains the gene tet and λ cos site cosmid vector pAYC53 was constructed. Vector pAYC31 was used to construct a gene bank from the chromosomal DNA of an obligate methylotrophic strain Methylomicrobium flagellatum KT.