Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1973 Jan;113(1):58–70. doi: 10.1128/jb.113.1.58-70.1973

Characterization of Lethal Zygosis Associated with Conjugation in Escherichia coli K-12

Ronald A Skurray 1, Peter Reeves 1
PMCID: PMC251602  PMID: 4567141

Abstract

When F− cells are mixed with an excess of Hfr cells there is a lethal event which results in a decrease in the number of F− survivors. We have described and discussed the parameters affecting this phenomenon of lethal zygosis, and these include the cultural conditions of both donor and recipient cells prior to mixing and the use of aeration throughout the period of the experiment. The absence of lethal zygosis with filtrates and supernatant fluids from donors suggests a dependence on direct cell-cell contact as found in conjugation. The phenomenon, which is normally observed in liquid media, also occurs on solid media, and use of these two methods has allowed examination of strains of different mating types. Whereas most Hfr strains capable of producing normal yields of recombinants showed killing activity, no F+ and only one F′ donor produced lethal zygosis. Only F− strains were sensitive to this phenomenon. The relationship between lethal zygosis and the various stages of conjugation is discussed.

Full text

PDF
58

Images in this article

66Image
on p.66

Selected References

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

  1. ALFOLDI L., JACOB F., WOLLMAN E. L., MAZE R. Sur le déterminisme génétique de la colicinogénie. C R Hebd Seances Acad Sci. 1958 Jun 23;246(25):3531–3533. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. ALFOLDI L., JACOB F., WOLLMAN E. L. Zygose létale dans des croisements entre souches colicinogènes et non colicinogènes d'Escherichia coli. C R Hebd Seances Acad Sci. 1957 Jun 12;244(24):2974–2977. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Berg C. M., Curtiss R., 3rd Transposition derivatives of an Hfr strain of Escherichia coli K-12. Genetics. 1967 Jul;56(3):503–525. doi: 10.1093/genetics/56.3.503. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Brinton C. C., Jr The structure, function, synthesis and genetic control of bacterial pili and a molecular model for DNA and RNA transport in gram negative bacteria. Trans N Y Acad Sci. 1965 Jun;27(8):1003–1054. doi: 10.1111/j.2164-0947.1965.tb02342.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. 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]
  6. CURTIS S. R., 3rd A STABLE PARTIAL DIPLOID STRAIN OF ESCHERICHIA COLI. Genetics. 1964 Oct;50:679–694. doi: 10.1093/genetics/50.4.679. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Clark A. J. Toward a metabolic interpretation of genetic recombination of E. coli and its phages. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1971;25:437–464. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.25.100171.002253. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Cooke M., Meynell E., Lawn A. M. Mutant Hfr strains defective in transfer: restoration by F-like and I-like de-repressed R factors. Genet Res. 1970 Aug;16(1):101–112. doi: 10.1017/s0016672300002317. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Curtiss R., 3rd Bacterial conjugation. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1969;23:69–136. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.23.100169.000441. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Curtiss R., 3rd, Charamella L. J., Stallions D. R., Mays J. A. Parental functions during conjugation in Escherichia coli K-12. Bacteriol Rev. 1968 Dec;32(4 Pt 1):320–348. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Curtiss R., 3rd, Stallions D. R. Energy requirements for specific pair formation during conjugation in Escherichia coli K-12. J Bacteriol. 1967 Aug;94(2):490–492. doi: 10.1128/jb.94.2.490-492.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. 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]
  13. Curtiss R., 3rd Ultraviolet-induced genetic recombination in a partially diploid strain of Escherichia coli. Genetics. 1968 Jan;58(1):9–54. doi: 10.1093/genetics/58.1.9. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. DAVIS B. D., MINGIOLI E. S. Mutants of Escherichia coli requiring methionine or vitamin B12. J Bacteriol. 1950 Jul;60(1):17–28. doi: 10.1128/jb.60.1.17-28.1950. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. DE ZWAIG R. N., ANTON D. N., PUIG J. The genetic control of colicinogenic factors E2, I and V. J Gen Microbiol. 1962 Nov;29:473–484. doi: 10.1099/00221287-29-3-473. [DOI] [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. FISCHER-FANTUZZI L., DI GIROLAMO M. Triparental matings in Escherichia coli. Genetics. 1961 Oct;46:1305–1315. doi: 10.1093/genetics/46.10.1305. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. FISHER K. W. The nature of the endergonic processes in conjugation in Escherichia coli K-12. J Gen Microbiol. 1957 Feb;16(1):136–145. doi: 10.1099/00221287-16-1-136. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. FISHER K. W. The role of the Krebs cycle in conjugation in Escherichia coli K-12. J Gen Microbiol. 1957 Feb;16(1):120–135. doi: 10.1099/00221287-16-1-120. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Iyer S. S., Bhaskaran K. A lethal factor in a strain of Vibrio El Tor. Genet Res. 1969 Aug;14(1):9–12. doi: 10.1017/s0016672300001804. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Kunicki-Goldfinger J. H. Mechanism of bacterial conjugation and recombination; a tentative model. Acta Microbiol Pol. 1968;17(2):147–180. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. 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]
  23. 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]
  24. NAGELDEZWAIG R., PUIG J. THE GENETIC BEHAVIOUR OF COLICINOGENIC FACTOR E. J Gen Microbiol. 1964 Aug;36:311–321. doi: 10.1099/00221287-36-2-311. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Nomura M. Colicins and related bacteriocins. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1967;21:257–284. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.21.100167.001353. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Novotny C., Carnahan J., Brinton C. C., Jr Mechanical removal of F pili, type I pili, and flagella from Hfr and RTF donor cells and the kinetics of their reappearance. J Bacteriol. 1969 Jun;98(3):1294–1306. doi: 10.1128/jb.98.3.1294-1306.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Ohki M., Tomizawa J. Asymmetric transfer of DNA strands in bacterial conjugation. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1968;33:651–658. doi: 10.1101/sqb.1968.033.01.074. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Ou J. T., Anderson T. F. Role of pili in bacterial conjugation. J Bacteriol. 1970 Jun;102(3):648–654. doi: 10.1128/jb.102.3.648-654.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. REEVES P. THE BACTERIOCINS. Bacteriol Rev. 1965 Mar;29:24–45. doi: 10.1128/br.29.1.24-45.1965. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. SILVER S. D. The transfer of material during mating in Escherichia coli. Transfer of DNA and upper limits on the transfer of RNA and protein. J Mol Biol. 1963 May;6:349–360. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(63)80048-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Stallions D. R., Curtiss R., 3rd Chromosome transfer and recombinant formation with deoxyribonucleic acid temperature-sensitive strains of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1971 Mar;105(3):886–895. doi: 10.1128/jb.105.3.886-895.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Taylor A. L., Trotter C. D. Revised linkage map of Escherichia coli. Bacteriol Rev. 1967 Dec;31(4):332–353. doi: 10.1128/br.31.4.332-353.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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

RESOURCES