The contribution of plasmids to naphthalene catabolism in sediment bacteria

Naphthalene utilizing bacteria were isolated from several sites above and below the discharge from a coking plant. The distribution of the bacteria was influenced by the effluent. Of these isolates, 11·4% obtained from the effluent discharge site, contained plasmids. No conjugal transfer of naphthalene utilizing ability was observed in over 1000 matings. Curing and transformation experiments demonstrated that one plasmid pNB33 (101 kb) was concerned with naphthalene catabolism.