Conservation of Salmonella typhimurium Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Partially Diploid Hybrids of Escherichia coli

Abstract

Partially diploid Escherichia coli K-12 hybrids recovered from mating with a Salmonella typhimurium Hfr strain were found to differ with respect to the manner in which they conserved the added Salmonella deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Five of the diploid hybrids examined appeared to maintain the Salmonella DNA as part of a functional F-merogenote; these hybrids were sensitive to the male-specific phage, R-17, responded as males to the female-specific phage, φII, and transferred their inherited Salmonella genetic markers at high frequency in conjugation experiments. Six diploid hybrids were observed which were not sensitive to R-17, and from which the added Salmonella DNA was not transmissible in conjugation tests; nevertheless, these hybrids responded as males to φII, and the Salmonella chromosomal fragments were conserved in them as parts of supercoiled, circular DNA elements. It was concluded that these circular DNA elements were defective F-merogenotes, unable to direct the synthesis of F-pili. Three diploid hybrids were found which were not sensitive to R-17, and which responded as females to φII; no circular DNA was found in them, and it was concluded that their conservation of the Salmonella genetic fragments was accomplished in some manner which did not involve association with F or assumption of the supercoiled circular configuration. Other partially diploid hybrids were observed which appeared similar to these latter three hybrids with regard to their conservation of the Salmonella DNA, but which also contained an infecting F-factor; in these hybrids, both genetic and molecular experiments indicated that the unstably conserved Salmonella DNA was not associated physically with the F-factor.

Characterization of transmissible genetic elements from sucrose-fermenting Salmonella strains

“…Testing for the response of organisms to the female-specific phage XII consisted of observing the morphology of plaques formed in soft-agar overlays. As described previously (5), the plaques formed by OH on F-containing (male) E. coli K-12 strains are significantly smaller than those formed on non-F-containing (female) K-12 strains. Experiments to detect increases in phage titer were performed by adding phage to bacteria at a ratio of 1 to 1,000 in appropriate nutrient broth medium, incubating overnight, and assaying the supematants on sensitive indicator bacteria, as described previously (2,7).…”

Linkage map of Salmonella typhimurium, edition V.

“…134a, 489). Partial diploids constitute a major class of recombinants in interspecies crosses (304,305,437).…”

Heteroduplex analysis of tra delta f' plasmids and the mechanism of their formation

“…We recently characterized a novel class of mutant F' plasmids (11,(18)(19)(20), found inEscherichia coli as the major product of conjugal matings between an Hfr donor and a recA Frecipient (11). These plasmids are Tra, being unable to promote their own transfer by conjugation.…”