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. 1972 Jul;111(1):177–185. doi: 10.1128/jb.111.1.177-185.1972

Effect of Zn2+ on Bacterial Conjugation: Inhibition of Mating Pair Formation

Jonathan T Ou 1, Thomas F Anderson 1
PMCID: PMC251255  PMID: 4591474

Abstract

Zn2+ at 10−3m has been found to block the formation of mating pairs between Hfr and F− strains of Escherichia coli as observed both by light microscopy and by Coulter counter measurements. Kinetic studies show that Zn2+ reduces the fertility of the male and that its effect disappears within 2 min after Zn2+ has been removed from the medium. Short treatments of female cells with Zn2+ have no detectable effect on their ability to form mating pairs. Later steps in the mating process such as mobilization of the male chromosome, transfer of the chromosome to the female, or its integration into the female chromosome seem not to be affected by 10−3m Zn2+.

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Selected References

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

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