FIG. 2.

Degradation of CMC by ply mutants. CMC degradation is estimated by the lack of staining (seen as cleared regions) by Congo Red in the agar directly below the colonies. (a) Comparison of the CMC degradation by 8401 (wild-type control), A632 (plyA), A616 (plyB), A408 (prsD), and A636 (plyA plyB) on CMC agar. (b) Introduction of pIJ7647 (carrying plyB) results in increased degradation of CMC by A616 (plyB) but not by A408 (prsD). (c) Introduction of pIJ7871 (carrying plyA) causes strong degradation by A616 (plyB) but not by A408 (prsD). (d) Egl from A. caulinodans, expressed from pRGC1, causes increased CMC degradation by 8401 and A616 (plyB) but not by A408 (prsD). (e) Similar results were obtained with Egl expressed from pGV910-C1, except that the CMC degradation extended beyond the diameter of the colony.