Characterization of a cryptic plasmid (p0M1) inButyrivibrio fibrisolvens by restriction endonuclease analysis and its cloning inEscherichia coli

A small cryptic plasmid has been identified in a strain of the ruminal bacteriumButyrivibrio fibrisolvens. This plasmid has been isolated and purified. It is approximately 2.8 kbp in length and contains restriction sites for a number of common endonucleases including single sites for EcoRI, PvuII, and PstI. A map of the plasmid restriction sites has been constructed. This plasmid, designated p0M1, has been ligated to pBR325, pAT153, and pHV33 and transformed intoEscherichia coli, and the resulting hybrid plasmids have been mapped. The possible uses of such hybrid plasmids for gene cloning inB. fibrisolvens are discussed.