[Oxidation of n-alkanes by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain carrying the plasmid pBS251].

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO8 cannot use n-alkanes or their respective alcohols as a sole carbon source. However, it can grow on n-alkanes when plasmid pBS251 is transferred into its cells. The hybrid plasmid pBS251 is a plasmid RP4 containing genes which control the capability to grow on n-alkanes of the C6-C12 series. Studies of n-alkane oxidation by P. aeruginosa PAO8 carrying pBS251 have shown that this plasmid controls the inducible alkane and alcohol oxidizing activities; the subsequent steps of n-alkane oxidation controlled by chromosomal genes are constitutive.