The nucleotide sequence contains 2 open reading frames encoding a 45-amino-acid protein homologous to a transcriptional repressor protein CopG, and a 203-amino-acid protein homologous to a replication protein RepB. Putative countertranscribed RNA, a double-strand origin, and a single-strand origin were also identified. A shuttle vector, pUCL2.1, for various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was constructed on the basis of the pCL2.1 replicon, into which an erythromycin-resistance gene as a marker and Escherichia coli ColE1 replication origin were inserted. pUCL2.1 was introduced into E. coli, Lc. lactis, Lactobacillus (Lb.) plantarum, Lb. paraplantarum, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. The recombinant LAB maintained traits of transformed plasmid in the absence of selection pressure over 40 generations. Therefore, pUCL2.1 could be used as an E. coli/LAB shuttle vector, which is an essential to engineer recombinant LAB strains that are useful for food fermentations.