Characterization of Pseudomonas mercury-resistance transposon Tn502, which has a preferred insertion site in RP1.

Tn502mer differs in size and restriction map from the well-characterized Tn501mer. It also differs in its preferential and high-frequency insertion into the 6 kb PstI-C region of RP1. The affinity for this region is perpetuated in pVS76, a clone of RP1 PstI-C in pBR322. Restriction mapping of independent pVS76::Tn502 derivatives revealed that Tn502 inserted at the same site (or small region) in PstI-C corresponding to the 35 kb coordinate in RP1. Insertion occurred in both orientations, but one was preferred. When PstI-C was deleted from RP1, acquisition of Tn502 was reduced and the sites of insertion randomized.