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Cell morphology of Bacillus subtilis: The effect of genetic background on the expression of a Rod- gene

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Summary

The Bacillus subtilis tag-1 mutation has been transferred into five different strains to determine the effect of genetic background on the expression of a gene regulating cell morphology. Two patterns of expression at restrictive temperature were observed:

  1. 1.

    Irregular, unstable spherical cells unable to form colonies.

  2. 2.

    Regular spherical cells which grow and divide producing luxuriant colonies.

When tag-1 is combined with a ts-DNA- mutation, ts-132, cells which are part sphere and part rod are produced at 45 C. Electron micrographs of sections of the double mutant reveal grossly altered cell wall ultrastructure in both regions, suggesting that cell shape is not solely dictated by cell wall structure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Medical Technology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

    John N. Reeve & Neil H. Mendelson

  2. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland

    Roger M. Cole

Authors
  1. John N. Reeve
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  2. Neil H. Mendelson
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  3. Roger M. Cole
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Communicated by W. Arber

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Reeve, J.N., Mendelson, N.H. & Cole, R.M. Cell morphology of Bacillus subtilis: The effect of genetic background on the expression of a Rod- gene. Molec. Gen. Genet. 119, 11–26 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270440

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270440

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