In this paper, a promoter-probe plasmid pKK232-8 was used as a vector, which functioned in Escherichia coli TG(1) host. The plasmid DNA fragments from Pseudomonas maltophilia AT18 chromosome DNA active as promoter in Escherichia coli TG1, the promoter function was studied by means of microcalorimetry, the promoter is about 800 bp DNA, it can promote the chloramphenicol ( Cm) gene in plasmid pKK232-8, the Cm resistance level is about 80 mug mL(-1), the promoter activity is high. It implicates that there are probably many promoters in Pseudomonas maltophilia AT18 chromosome. All these information is readily obtained by an LKB 2277-204 heat conduction microcalorimeter. Microcalorimetry is a quantitative, inexpensive, and versatile method for microbiological genetic research.