FIG. 2.

Expression of plasmid-borne xylE fusions in M. chloromethanicum CM4. Genetic organization of the gene clusters I (A) and II (B) involved in chloromethane utilization in M. chloromethanicum CM4 (36). Genes encoding methyltransferases are shown in black, genes encoding putative H₄folate-dependent enzymes in C₁ metabolism are shown in dark gray, vitamin B₁₂ biosynthesis genes are shown in light gray, and genes of unknown function are shown in white. Bar diagrams show catechol dioxygenase activity in transconjugants of wild-type M. chloromethanicum CM4 with different intergenic DNA sequences fused to the promoterless xylE gene of vector pCM130 (18) grown on methanol (□), a mixture of methanol and chloromethane (hashed bars), or chloromethane (▪). Plasmid constructs (see Materials and Methods) are schematically indicated below the sequence, with the orientation of the xylE gene indicated by a black arrowhead.