AN IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR GENE REPLACEMENT AND XYLE FUSION ANALYSIS IN PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA

A novel pUC19-based gene replacement vector has been developed. This vector incorporates (i) the counterselectable sacB marker, (ii) a lacZ alpha. allele for blue-white screening, (iii) an oriT for conjugation-mediated plasmid transfer and (iv) unique cloning sites for SmaI and the rare-cutting meganuclease I-SceI. These rare restriction sites are also present on the helper plasmid pUC19Sce. The replacement vector is engineered to contain few restriction sites to gain greater access to restriction sites within cloned DNA fragments, thus facilitating their genetic manipulation. The usefulness of the system was demonstrated by chromosomal integration of a newly constructed xylE::Gm(R) fusion cassette into the glpD gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.