Genetic Organization of Nylon-Oligomer-Degrading Enzymes from Alkalophilic Bacterium, Agromyces sp. KY5R

A 15-kb gene locus including nylon-oligomer-degrading genes from the chromosome of an alkalophilic bacterium, Agromyces sp. KY5R, was cloned and sequenced. The genetic organization was similar to the DNA region flanked by directly repeated IS6100 sequences on the nylon-oligomer-degradative plasmid pOAD2. However, we found several genetic rearrangements between the two DNA regions. Here, we discuss the possible mechanisms underlying the genetic rearrangements.