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Ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis in extremely halophilic archaebacteria: Isolation of auxotrophic mutants ofHaloferax mediterranei andHaloferax gibbonsii

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Abstract

The lethality and mutagenicity in ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-treated cells of five archaebacterial strains belonging to each of the three described genera of non-alkaliphilic halobacteria were investigated. In order to test the efficiency of the mutagenesis under a variety of experimental conditions, we chose the fast-growing halobacteriumHaloferax mediterranei as a model strain. A strong induced mutagenicity was found, since the spontaneous mutation rate (expressed as the rate of resistance to the antibiotic josamycin) increased up to 500-fold after mutagen exposure. The mutagenesis was also successfully used in obtaining auxotrophic mutants. Although a heterogeneous response to the induced effects caused after EMS exposure was detected for the other halophilic archaebacteria tested, a clear, efficient mutagenicity ofHalobacterium halobium andHaloferax gibbonsii was observed; auxotrophic mutants of this halobacterium were also produced. Optimal experimental conditions for EMS mutagenesis of some halobacteria were determined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, 41012, Sevilla, Spain

    Joaquín J. Nieto, R. Fernández-Castillo, M. Megías & Francisco Ruiz-Berraquero

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  1. Joaquín J. Nieto
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  2. R. Fernández-Castillo
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  3. M. Megías
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  4. Francisco Ruiz-Berraquero
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Nieto, J.J., Fernández-Castillo, R., Megías, M. et al. Ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis in extremely halophilic archaebacteria: Isolation of auxotrophic mutants ofHaloferax mediterranei andHaloferax gibbonsii . Current Microbiology 24, 41–47 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570098

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570098

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