Abstract
linA is a gene encoding γ-hexachlorocyclohexane dehydrochlorinase identified in a γ-HCH-degrading Sphingobium japonicum UT26 that had been isolated from soil of an experimental field treated with γ-HCH. The presence of linA-homologous nucleotide sequences and their sequence diversity was investigated by linA-targeted PCR amplification of DNA obtained from different soils in the field and in Japan. linA-homologous sequences were obtained from almost all the soils some of which had never been treated with γ-HCH. Deduced amino acid sequences suggested that they can be regarded as fragments of linA that encode LinA. Some common, natural function of LinA in soil was suggested.
