Abstract
Conditions for induction of mutants have been studied in the unicellular, blue-green alga, Aphanosapsa 6714. Ethylmethanesulfonate, nitrosomethylurea, an acridine (euflavine) and γ-rays from 60Co induced no significant increase in mutant frequency although they produced classical killing effects. Methyl-nitro-nitrosoguanidine (NTG), at similar lethal doses, led to only a small increase in mutant yields. A useful mutagenic action was obtained only with ultraviolet light. This effect proved to be sensitive to photodependent repair processes, but not to dark excision repair systems. Attempts to adapt enrichment procedures by penicillin selective killing were unsuccessful.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- UV:
-
Ultraviolet light
- NTG:
-
Methyl nitro nitroso guanidine
- NMU:
-
Nitro methyl urea
- EMS:
-
Ethyl methane sulfonate
References
Astier, C.: Contribution à l'étude génétique d'une algue bleue, Aphanocapsa 6714. Masters of Science Thesis, Paris-Sud University (1976)
Astier, C., Espardellier, F.: Mise en évidence d'un système de transfert génétique chez une cyanophycée du genre Aphanocapsa. C. R. Acad. Sc. 282, 795–797 (1976)
Fogg, G. E.: The production of extracellular nitrogenous substances by a blue-green alga. Proc. Roy. Soc. Biol. 139, 372–397 (1952)
Herdman, M., Delaney, S. F., Carr, N. G.: A new medium for the isolation and growth of auxotrophic mutants of the blue-green alga Anacystis nidulans. J. Gen. Microbiol. 79, 233–237 (1973)
Herdman, M., Faulkner, B. M., Carr, N. G.: Synchronous growth and genome replication in the blue-green alga Anacystis nidulans, Arch. Microbiol. 73, 238–249 (1970)
Pelroy, R. A., Levine, G. A., Bassham, J. A.: Kinetics of light-dark CO2 fixation and glucose assimilation by Aphanocapsa 6714. J. Bacteriol. 76, 633–643 (1976)
Polukhina, L. E., Shestakov, S. V.: UV sensitive and UV resistant mutants of blue-green alga Anacystis nidulans. Genetica 13, 689–695 (1977)
Rippka, R.: Photoheterotrophy and chemoheterotrophy among unicellular blue-green algae. Arch. Microbiol. 87, 93–98 (1972)
Setlow, J. K.: The molecular basis of biological effects of ultraviolet radiation and photoreactivation, Vol. 2 (M. Ebert and A. Howard, eds.), pp. 195–248. Amsterdam: North Holland Publishing Co. 1966
Schaffer, P. W., Lockau, W., Wolk, C. P.: Isolation of mutants of the cyanobacterium, Anabaena variabilis, impaired in photoautotrophy. Arch. Microbiol. 17, 215–220 (1978)
Sherman, L. A., Cunningham, J.: Isolation and characterization of temperature-sensitive high fluorescence mutations of the bluegreen alga Synechococcus cedrorum. Plant Sci. Lett. 8, 319–326 (1977)
Talmud, P. J.: Mutational synergism between p-fluoro-phenylalanine and UV in Coprinus lagopus. Mut. Res. 43, 213–222 (1977)
Tang, T., Asato, Y.: Ultraviolet light induction and photoreactivation of thymine dimers in a Cyanobacterium, Anacystis nidulans. Arch. Microbiol. 118, 193–198 (1978)
Van Baalen, C.: Mutagenesis and genetic recombination. In: The Biology of blue-green algae (N. G. Carr and B. A. Whitton, eds.), pp. 201–213. Oxford: Blackwells Scientific Publications 1973
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Astier, C., Joset-Espardellier, F. & Meyer, I. Conditions for mutagenesis in the cynanobacterium Aphanocapsa 6714 . Arch. Microbiol. 120, 93–96 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409094
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409094