2-METHYLISOBORNEOL DEGRADATION BY THE CAM OPERON FROM PSEUDOMONAS-PUTIDA PPG1

The purpose of this study was to determine whether 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) degradation is coded on the chromosomal DNA or on the plasmid DN A. Result of these studies indicated the genes in Pseudomonas spp. res ponsible for this degradation may be located in the chromosomal DNA. M oreover, since the structure of MIB is similar to camphor, the cam ope ron which can decompose camphor was tested for decomposition of MIB. T he earn operon consists of five parts; camD,C,A,B and camR. Each gene plays a different note; camR as it is a repressor of expression. The w hole cam operon could decompose MIB by much the same pathway as : camp hor. Overexpressed recombinant plasmids were also constructed to reduc e MIB, which was effectively degraded by deleted camR strains.