[Genetic control of the destruction of surface-active agents].

Degradation of anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic surfactants, such as alkylbenzene sulfonate, ethonium, amidobetaine, and alkylaminobispropionate, by pseudomonads can be controlled by plasmid genes. The majority of plasmids of surfactant-degrading strains are capable of conjugal transfer.

[Genetic determination of degradation of ampholytic surfactants].

Plasmid DNA was detected in Pseudomonas putida 141 and P. stutzeri AT strains which caused destruction of the ampholytic surfactants alkylamino-bis-propionate (AABP) and amidobetaine, respectively. As was demonstrated using genetic analytic procedures, the plasmids controlled AABP and amidobetaine destruction.