Identification of βLR16
Four metagenomic libraries from Alaskan soil DNA were selected on various β-lactam antibiotics,
yielding 14 resistant clones [2]. Thirteen of the clones encoded β-lactamases, but one did
not. This clone, designated βLR16, grew in the presence of carbenicillin (50 μg ml-1) at 24°C
but not at 37°C. When resuspending cell pellets of βLR16, it was noted that the pellet was stickier
and harder to resuspend than E. coli containing empty vector.