Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1975 Sep;123(3):779–791. doi: 10.1128/jb.123.3.779-791.1975

Isolation of a hybrid F' factor-carrying Escherichia coli lactose region and Salmonella typhimurium histidine region, F42-400 (F' ts114 lac+, his+): its partial characterization and behavior in Salmonella typhimurium.

R N Rao, M G Pereira
PMCID: PMC235798  PMID: 1099076

Abstract

Episome F' ts114 lac+ (F42-114) was transferred into Salmonella typhimurium carrying an F'his+ (FS400) episome, and fused episome F' ts114 lac+, his+ (F42-400) was obtained. Episome F42-400 could be transferred to S. typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Identification of the episome was based on: (i) temperature sensitivity of the Lac+ and His+ phenotypes; (ii) the fact that F- segregants, obtained after temperature curing or acridine orange curing, were simultaneously Lac- and His-; and (iii) linkage of lac+ with his+ in episomal transfers to E. coli and S. typhimurium. The frequency of episome transfer was influenced by the genotype of the donor. Plasmid LT2, prevalent in S. typhimurium LT2 strains, was suggested to be responsible for the low fertility of S. typhimurium donors. Episome F42-400 was capable of chromosome mobilization, and the extent of chromosome mobilization was not influenced by the presence or absence of the histidine region on the donor chromosome. Growth in a defined medium with acridine orange was able to cure F42-400. The frequency of curing was increased (the frequency of His+ cells was 0.0001%) if the cells were grown at 40 C in the presence of acridine orange. Selection for temperature-resistant Lac+, His+ derivatives in a strain without histidine deletion yielded Hfr strains. However, similar and stronger selections in strains without the chromosomal histidine region failed to yield Hfr strains. Our inability to obtain Hfr's in strains without the chromosomal histidine region was explained by assuming that the episome F42-400 has lost the F sites involved in integration into the S. typhimurium chromosome.

Full text

PDF
779

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ADELBERG E. A., PITTARD J. CHROMOSOME TRANSFER IN BACTERIAL CONJUGATION. Bacteriol Rev. 1965 Jun;29:161–172. doi: 10.1128/br.29.2.161-172.1965. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Achtman M. Genetics of the F sex factor in enterobacteriaceae. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 1973;60:79–123. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-65502-9_3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Achtman M., Willetts N., Clark A. J. Beginning a genetic analysis of conjugational transfer determined by the F factor in Escherichia coli by isolation and characterization of transfer-deficient mutants. J Bacteriol. 1971 May;106(2):529–538. doi: 10.1128/jb.106.2.529-538.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Alfaro G., Willetts N. The relationship between the transfer systems of some bacterial plasmids. Genet Res. 1972 Dec;20(3):279–289. doi: 10.1017/s0016672300013811. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bachmann B. J. Pedigrees of some mutant strains of Escherichia coli K-12. Bacteriol Rev. 1972 Dec;36(4):525–557. doi: 10.1128/br.36.4.525-557.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bastarrachea F., Willetts N. S. The elimination by acridine orange of F30 from recombination-deficient strains of Escherichia coli K12. Genetics. 1968 Jun;59(2):153–166. doi: 10.1093/genetics/59.2.153. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Beckwith J. R., Signer E. R., Epstein W. Transposition of the Lac region of E. coli. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1966;31:393–401. doi: 10.1101/sqb.1966.031.01.051. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Blumenthal T. P1 transduction: formation of heterogenotes upon cotransduction of bacterial genes with a P2 prophage. Virology. 1972 Jan;47(1):76–93. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(72)90241-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Brinton C. C., Jr The properties of sex pili, the viral nature of "conjugal" genetic transfer systems, and some possible approaches to the control of bacterial drug resistance. CRC Crit Rev Microbiol. 1971 May;1(1):105–160. doi: 10.3109/10408417109104479. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Broda P., Meacock P., Achtman M. Early transfer of genes determining transfer functions by some Hfr strains in Escherichia coli K12. Mol Gen Genet. 1972;116(4):336–347. doi: 10.1007/BF00270090. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Curtiss R., 3rd Bacterial conjugation. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1969;23:69–136. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.23.100169.000441. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Curtiss R., 3rd, Renshaw J. F+ strains of Escherichia coli K-12 defective in Hfr formation. Genetics. 1969 Sep;63(1):7–26. doi: 10.1093/genetics/63.1.7. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Curtiss R., 3rd, Stallions D. R. Probability of F integration and frequency of stable Hfr donors in F+ populations of Escherichia coli K-12. Genetics. 1969 Sep;63(1):27–38. doi: 10.1093/genetics/63.1.27. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Cuzin F., Jacob F. Mutations de l'épisome F d'Escherichia coli K 12. II. Mutants à réplication thermosensible. Ann Inst Pasteur (Paris) 1967 Apr;112(4):397–418. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. DeVries J. K., Maas W. K. Description of an incompatibility mutant of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1973 Jul;115(1):213–220. doi: 10.1128/jb.115.1.213-220.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Demerec M., Adelberg E. A., Clark A. J., Hartman P. E. A proposal for a uniform nomenclature in bacterial genetics. Genetics. 1966 Jul;54(1):61–76. doi: 10.1093/genetics/54.1.61. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Dubnau E., Maas W. K. Inhibition of replication of an F'lac episome in Hfr cells of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1968 Feb;95(2):531–539. doi: 10.1128/jb.95.2.531-539.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Echols H. PROPERTIES OF F' STRAINS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI SUPERINFECTED WITH F-LACTOSE AND F-GALATOSE EPISOMES. J Bacteriol. 1963 Feb;85(2):262–268. doi: 10.1128/jb.85.2.262-268.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Garrick-Silversmith L., Hartman P. E. Histidine-requiring mutants of Escherichia coli K12. Genetics. 1970 Oct;66(2):231–244. doi: 10.1093/genetics/66.2.231. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Hane M. W., Wood T. H. Escherichia coli K-12 mutants resistant to nalidixic acid: genetic mapping and dominance studies. J Bacteriol. 1969 Jul;99(1):238–241. doi: 10.1128/jb.99.1.238-241.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Hirota Y. THE EFFECT OF ACRIDINE DYES ON MATING TYPE FACTORS IN ESCHERICHIA COLI. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1960 Jan;46(1):57–64. doi: 10.1073/pnas.46.1.57. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Hsu M. T. Electron microscope analysis of partial denaturation of F factor deoxyribonucleic acid. J Bacteriol. 1974 May;118(2):425–433. doi: 10.1128/jb.118.2.425-433.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Ippen K., Shapiro J. A., Beckwith J. R. Transposition of the lac region to the gal region of the Escherichia coli chromosome: isolation of lambda-lac transducing bacteriophages. J Bacteriol. 1971 Oct;108(1):5–9. doi: 10.1128/jb.108.1.5-9.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. JACOB F., ADELBERG E. A. Transfert de caractéres génétiques par incorporation au facteur sexuel d'Escherichia coli. C R Hebd Seances Acad Sci. 1959 Jul 6;249(1):189–191. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Kaye R., Barravecchio J., Roth J. Isolation of P22 specialized transducing phage followong F'-episome fusion. Genetics. 1974 Apr;76(4):655–667. doi: 10.1093/genetics/76.4.655. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. LEVINE M. Mutations in the temperate phage P22 and lysogeny in Salmonella. Virology. 1957 Feb;3(1):22–41. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(57)90021-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. LURIA S. E., BURROUS J. W. Hybridization between Escherichia coli and Shigella. J Bacteriol. 1957 Oct;74(4):461–476. doi: 10.1128/jb.74.4.461-476.1957. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Lederberg J, Cavalli L L, Lederberg E M. Sex Compatibility in Escherichia Coli. Genetics. 1952 Nov;37(6):720–730. doi: 10.1093/genetics/37.6.720. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Low B. Rapid mapping of conditional and auxotrophic mutations in Escherichia coli K-12. J Bacteriol. 1973 Feb;113(2):798–812. doi: 10.1128/jb.113.2.798-812.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Low K. B. Escherichia coli K-12 F-prime factors, old and new. Bacteriol Rev. 1972 Dec;36(4):587–607. doi: 10.1128/br.36.4.587-607.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. MAAS R. EXCLUSION OF A FLAC EPISOME BY AN HFR GENE. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1963 Dec;50:1051–1055. doi: 10.1073/pnas.50.6.1051. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. MAAS R., MAAS W. K. Introduction of a gene from Escherichia coli B into HFR and F-strains of Escherichia coli K-12. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1962 Nov 15;48:1887–1893. doi: 10.1073/pnas.48.11.1887. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Maas W. K., Goldschmidt A. D. A mutant of Escherichia coli permitting replication of two F factors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1969 Mar;62(3):873–880. doi: 10.1073/pnas.62.3.873. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Macrina F. L., Balbinder E. Genetic Characterization of a Stable F' lac Plasmid. J Bacteriol. 1972 Oct;112(1):503–512. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.1.503-512.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Macrina F. L., Balbinder E. Plasmid-associated functions of a stable Flac. J Bacteriol. 1973 Jan;113(1):183–191. doi: 10.1128/jb.113.1.183-191.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Matney T. S., Goldschmidt E. P., Erwin N. S., Scroggs R. A. A preliminary map of genomic sites for F-attachment in Escherichia coli K12. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1964 Oct 14;17(3):278–281. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(64)90397-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Matsubara K. Properties of sex factor and related episomes isolated from purified Escherichia coli zygote cells. J Mol Biol. 1968 Nov 28;38(1):89–108. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(68)90130-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Novotny C. P., Lavin K. Some effects of temperature on the growth of F pili. J Bacteriol. 1971 Sep;107(3):671–682. doi: 10.1128/jb.107.3.671-682.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Palchaudhuri S. R., Mazaitis A. J., Maas W. K., Kleinschmidt A. K. Characterization by electron microscopy of fused F-prime factors in Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1972 Jul;69(7):1873–1876. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.7.1873. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Pastan I., Perlman R. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate in bacteria. Science. 1970 Jul 24;169(3943):339–344. doi: 10.1126/science.169.3943.339. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Press R., Glansdorff N., Miner P., De Vries J., Kadner R., Maas W. K. Isolation of transducing particles of phi-80 bacteriophage that carry different regions of the Escherichia coli genome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1971 Apr;68(4):795–798. doi: 10.1073/pnas.68.4.795. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Rao R. N., Pereira M. G. Behavior of a hybrid F' ts114 lac+, his+ factor (F42-400) in Klebsiella pneumoniae M5a1. J Bacteriol. 1975 Sep;123(3):792–805. doi: 10.1128/jb.123.3.792-805.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Rao R. N., Raj C. V. Isolation of Salmonella typhimurium mutants affecting the plaque morphology of phage P22. Mol Gen Genet. 1971;113(3):240–243. doi: 10.1007/BF00339544. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. SCAIFE J., GROSS J. D. Inhibition of multiplication of an Flac factor in Hfr cells of Escherichia coli K-12. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1962 May 11;7:403–407. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(62)90324-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. San Blas F., Thompson R., Broda P. An Escherichia coli K12 mutant apparently carrying two autonomous F-prime factors. Mol Gen Genet. 1974 May 21;130(2):153–163. doi: 10.1007/BF00269086. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Sanderson K. E. Linkage map of Salmonella typhimurium, edition IV. Bacteriol Rev. 1972 Dec;36(4):558–586. doi: 10.1128/br.36.4.558-586.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Sanderson K. E., Ross H., Ziegler L., Mäkelä P. H. F + , Hfr, and F' strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella abony. Bacteriol Rev. 1972 Dec;36(4):608–637. doi: 10.1128/br.36.4.608-637.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. Sasaki I., Bertani G. Growth abnormalities in Hfr derivatives of Escherichia coli strain C. J Gen Microbiol. 1965 Sep;40(3):365–376. doi: 10.1099/00221287-40-3-365. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  49. Sharp P. A., Hsu M. T., Otsubo E., Davidson N. Electron microscope heteroduplex studies of sequence relations among plasmids of Escherichia coli. I. Structure of F-prime factors. J Mol Biol. 1972 Nov 14;71(2):471–497. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(72)90363-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  50. Sheehy R. J., Orr C., Curtiss R., 3rd Molecular studies on entry exclusion in Escherichia coli minicells. J Bacteriol. 1972 Nov;112(2):861–869. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.2.861-869.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  51. Smith H. O., Levine M. A phage P22 gene controlling integration of prophage. Virology. 1967 Feb;31(2):207–216. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(67)90164-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  52. Spratt B. G., Rowbury R. J. The plasmid of Salmonella typhimurium LT2. Mol Gen Genet. 1973 Mar 19;121(4):347–353. doi: 10.1007/BF00433233. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  53. Stadler J., Adelberg E. A. Temperature dependence of sex-factor maintenance in Escherichia coli K-12. J Bacteriol. 1972 Jan;109(1):447–449. doi: 10.1128/jb.109.1.447-449.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  54. Taylor A. L., Trotter C. D. Linkage map of Escherichia coli strain K-12. Bacteriol Rev. 1972 Dec;36(4):504–524. doi: 10.1128/br.36.4.504-524.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  55. Voll M. J. Derivation of an F-merogenote and a phi-80 high-frequency transducing phage carrying the histidine operon os Salmonella. J Bacteriol. 1972 Feb;109(2):741–750. doi: 10.1128/jb.109.2.741-750.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  56. Willetts N. S. Location of the origin of transfer of the sex factor F. J Bacteriol. 1972 Nov;112(2):773–778. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.2.773-778.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  57. Willetts N., Bastarrachea F. Genetic and physicochemical characterization of Escherichia coli strains carrying fused F' elements derived from KLF1 and F57. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1972 Jun;69(6):1481–1485. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.6.1481. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  58. Willetts N. Mapping loci for surface exclusion and incompatibility on the F factor of Escherichia coli K-12. J Bacteriol. 1974 Jun;118(3):778–782. doi: 10.1128/jb.118.3.778-782.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  59. Willetts N. The genetics of transmissible plasmids. Annu Rev Genet. 1972;6:257–268. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ge.06.120172.001353. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  60. Wiman M., Bertani G., Kelly B., Sasaki I. Genetic map of Escherichia coli strain C. Mol Gen Genet. 1970;107(1):1–31. doi: 10.1007/BF00433220. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  61. Wood T. H. Effects of temperature, agitation, and donor strain on chromosome transfer in Escherichia coli K-12. J Bacteriol. 1968 Dec;96(6):2077–2084. doi: 10.1128/jb.96.6.2077-2084.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES