Segregational Instability of a Recombinant Plasmid pDML6 in Streptomyces lividans

Segregational instability of a recombinant plasmid, pDML6, encoding extracellular $\beta$-lactamase in Streptomyces lividans PD6 was characterized by growth kinetic analysis. The quantitative determination of the plasmid harbored in the mycelia was evaluated with mycelia fragmented mechanically, and also with colonies regenerated from protoplasts. Conditions for the formation of protoplasts and regeneration of protoplasts were established. The maximal specific growth rates of the host strain and the plasmid-harboring strain in a chemically defined medium without selection pressure were the same. The probability of plasmid loss from the harbouring cells was higher at higher growth rates. Mathematical models for the prediction of cell growth, substrate uptake, and accumulation of the cloned gene product were developed.