Cloning and expression of the plasmid-encoded benzene dioxygenase genes fromPseudomonas putidaML2

Hybridization using heterologous dioxygenase gene probes indicated the presence of the genes encoding the enzyme benzene dioxygenase on a 112 kb plasmid from Pseudomonas putida ML2. They were identified as benzene dioxygenase genes (bed ABC1C2) by cloning in Escherichia coli and analysis of expression by Western blotting using antibodies raised to the four polypeptides of purified benzene dioxygenase.