Cloning of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane dehydrochlorinase gene with its flanking regions from soil by activity-based screening techniques

Activity-based screening techniques were applied to clone a gene encoding γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) dehydrochlorinase with its flanking regions from a cosmid-based library of DNA that was extracted from a γ-HCH-added suspension of HCH-contaminated soil. A total of 11 cosmid clones showing the γ-HCH dehydrochlorinase activity were obtained through the screenings, indicating the validity of this approach. All the clones had a linA gene identical to known one, but its flanking regions showed some structural variations with known ones, suggesting high likelihood of genetic divergence in the linA-flanking regions.

► A gamma-HCH dehydrochlorinase gene was cloned from HCH-contaminated soil.
► Flanking regions of the gene were also cloned.
► Activity-based screening techniques were applied.
► The cloned gene was identical to the known linA gene.
► Flanking regions of the gene showed some structural variations with others.