Two-dimensional electrophoresis of sequential double-restriction digests showed that the genome of Desulfovibrio gigas comprised 1·63 × 106bp (1·09 × 109 Dal) of DNA; an ammonia-limited chemostat population possessed an average of nine genomes per cell and a multiplying batch culture possessed ∼17 genomes per cell. The genome size of D. vulgaris (Hildenborough) was 1·72 × 106 bp (1·14 × 109 Dal); a population from an ammonia-limited batch culture contained four genomes per cell. Control digestions and analyses with Escherichia coli GM4 agreed reasonably with published values: a genome size of 3·95 × 106 bp and approximately two genomes per cell from a stationary batch culture in glucose minimal medium. Desulfovibrio gigas carried two plasmids of ∼70 MDal (1·05 × 105 bp) and ∼40 MDal (6 × 104 bp); D. vulgaris (Hildenborough) contained one of ∼130 MDal (1·95 × 105 bp). Single plasmids were also detected in a second strain of D. vulgaris and in strain Berre sol of D. desulfuricans but not in 10 other desulfovibrios including representatives of D. desulfuricans, D. vulgaris, D. salexigens and D. africanus.
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