Identification of the inducing agent of the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid pathway encoded by plasmid pJP4

The inducing agent of the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) pathway of Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP134 (pJP4) was determined through the analysis of promoterless lacZ transcriptional fusions with tfd structural genes. beta-Galactosidase activity was measured in the presence and absence of 2,4-D. Fusions of the individual genes act both as reporters and disrupters of gene expression. Increases in reporter activity were expected in fusions occurring in genes which encode enzymes which function after the production of the inducing intermediate. This analysis indicates that dichloromuconate is the inducing intermediate.