Detection of plasmid in cycloparaffin-utilizing bacterium, Nocardia sp. and its participation in cycloketone utilization.

On electrophoresis of plasmid on agarose gel, a plasmid band (pCN-1) was observed in a sample strain of Nocardia sp. KUC-7N. This band was capable of assimilating various cycloparaffin as the sole carbon source. Transfer of the plasmid by transformation to Rhodococcus rhodochrous IFO 3338 cells gave a transformant capable of utilizing cycloketones, and a plasmid band (pCN-1) was observed in the transformant. This result shows that the utilization on cycloketones is determined by the plasmid in Nocardia sp. KUC-7N.