Due to the intensive studies on the molecular biology of
E. coli and its genetic elements, the dawn of genetic engineering
was determined by using it as the host of choice in cloning
experiments (Glass, 1982). Using this microorganisms, several
laboratories are involved in works targeted to the construction
and cloning of complex recombinant molecules able to transform
other microbial hosts for different economic goals (Brent and
Irwin 1987). The present~'work aimed to transform the ~. coli
strain K12 JM 109 using the previously constructed recombinant
plasmid p
UC18
, which contains the sequence of gene "C'I belonging
to the Rhizobiophage 11 (Abdel-Sabour, 1989). This cloning
experiment represents an important step in further trials to
construct more complex recombinant plasmids able to transform
Rhizobia.