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Effect of tra mutations on F factor-specified immunity to lethal zygosis

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Summary

Hfr, F+, and F-prime cells are, unlike F− cells, insensitive to an excess of Hfr donor cells, indicating that there is an F factor mediated immunity to lethal zygosis (Ilz). Results with Flac episomes carrying traJ, traS or various polar mutations in the tra region indicate that this immunity is independent of surface exclusion, of traJ control, and of all known genes within the tra operon. However, analysis of a series of strains with deletions in the F factor, extending from the right into the tra region, suggests that a gene for immunity to lethal zygosis is located within the tra region. We therefore conclude that Ilz is genetically complex, and present a hypothesis to account for these results.

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Author notes

  1. R. A. Skurray

    Present address: Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, 94720, Berkeley, California, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Adelaide, South Australia

    R. A. Skurray, N. Willetts & P. Reeves

  2. Department of Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

    R. A. Skurray, N. Willetts & P. Reeves

Authors
  1. R. A. Skurray
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  2. N. Willetts
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  3. P. Reeves
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Communicated by W. Arber

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Skurray, R.A., Willetts, N. & Reeves, P. Effect of tra mutations on F factor-specified immunity to lethal zygosis. Molec. Gen. Genet. 146, 161–165 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268084

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268084

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