TABLE 1.

Primer sets used in this study

Primerb	Primer sequence (5′-3′)	Target gene (GenBank accession no.)	Positiona	Molecular analysis	PCR annealing temp (°C)	Reference
EthB for	AGG AGG AAT CTA TGA CAC TG	ethB, encoding cytochrome P450 monooxygenase of R. ruber IFP 2001 (AF333761)	12031	PCR/sequencing	54	7
EthB rev	GGC ATC GGC ATC ACT TCG GGT AG		13254
EthB for M	TCT ACG ACG ACA CCC		12586	Sequencing
EthR for	ATG GGA ACG TCG ACG ACG AG	ethR, regulator of eth operon of R. ruber IFP 2001 (AF333761)	9555	PCR/sequencing	65	7
EthR rev	CTA GGA GCG CAA GGT GTC CG		10550
EthR rev M	ATC CCG ACT TCC TGC GCG ATC TC		10318	Sequencing
MdpA 1F	CTT ACC GGG CTC AAC TAT GC	mdpA, encoding alkane hydroxylase of M. petroleiphilum PM1 (Mpe_B0606)	852	PCR/sequencing	65	44
MdpA 1R	CGC TTC CCT GGA TCG ATG TT		56
613F	GTGACTGCAAGGCTGGAGCG	16S rRNA gene of M. petroleiphilum PM1 (Mpe_A0326a)	632	PCR/sequencing	54	17
988R	TCTGGTAACTTCTAGACA		1006

^aPositions refer to sequences available under accession numbers provided.

^bPrimer sets used to amplify catabolic genes involved in aerobic MTBE degradation or to detect the presence of bacterial strains similar to the well-known MTBE degrader M. petroleiphilum PM1.