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Isolation of Bacillus subtilis transformation-deficient mutants and mapping of competence genes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

Giorgio Mastromei*
Affiliation:
Universitä degli studi di Firenze, Department of Animal Biology and Genetics, via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Claudia Barberio
Affiliation:
Universitä degli studi di Firenze, Department of Animal Biology and Genetics, via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Stefania Pistolesi
Affiliation:
Universitä degli studi di Firenze, Department of Animal Biology and Genetics, via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Mario Polsinelli
Affiliation:
Universitä degli studi di Firenze, Department of Animal Biology and Genetics, via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy
*
* Corresponding author.
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Summary

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We have isolated and characterized 48 Bacillus subtilis competence-deficient mutants. The mutants, obtained by nitrososoguanidine mutagenesis or by insertional mutagenesis with transposon Tn917, had a reduced transformation frequency and a wild-type transduction frequency. The com mutations were mapped by PBS1 transduction and at least four new com genes have been identified. The mutants were also characterized for their capacity to bind and take up the transforming DNA.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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