Summary
Transfer of chromosome promoted by an F+ or an F′ needs a recombinational event between episome and chromosome and is therefore very low in RecA strains (Wilkins, 1969).
When F+ or F′ RecA cells are mated with F- cells and simultaneously infected with bacteriophage Mu-1 the transfer of chromosome is greatly stimulated and seems to take place on any site of the chromosome even when homology is present between the F′ and the chromosome.
A spot-test based on Mu-1 promoted chromosome-mobilization was developed to search for mutants of Mu-1 that had lost the ability to promote chromosome-mobilization. Two conditional lethal amber mutants falling in different complementation groups were found to have lost this property.
The integration of an Ftslac + in the chromosome of a RecA strain is also strongly stimulated by Mu-1 and not site-specific. The resulting Hfr's are very stable and of the clockwise and counterclockwise types. Some of the integrated F-primes are sterile and not able to transfer chromosome or do not form F-pilli.
Also the Mu-1 stimulated integration of an Fts(nadA-chlA)+ in the chromosome of a RecA strain which has a deletion on the chromosome from nadA-chlA was studied. It was found that when the F′ is integrated under the influence of Mu-1 also episomal genes carried by that F′ can be inactivated.
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Communicated by P. Starlinger
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van de Putte, P., Gruijthuijsen, M. Chromosome-mobilization and integration of F-factors in the chromosome of RecA strains of E. coli under the influence of bacteriophage Mu-1. Molec. Gen. Genet. 118, 173–183 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267086
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267086