Homology among arsenate resistance determinants of R factors in Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli bearing R factors R773 or R46 or hybrid recombinant plasmids carrying the arsenic resistance determinants derived from these plasmids synthesized inducible polypeptides of similar apparent molecular weights when exposed to arsenite salts (R773 derivative, 64,000 and 16,000; R46 derivative, 62,000, 16,500, and 13,500). In addition, both plasmids encoded energy-dependent arsenate efflux systems and demonstrated DNA sequence homology by filter blot hybridization. Human isolates of arsenate- and arsenite-resistant enterobacteria were tested for homology with the arsenate operon of R773 by colony blot hybridization. Approximately one-third of the isolates hybridized strongly, and two-thirds showed little or no evidence of homology, suggesting the presence of two or more genetically distinct arsenate resistant determinants.