Genetic analysis of the Mud mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 with an impaired ability to maintain bacteriophage Mu development
Upmal, M.R.; Kobets, N.S.; Il'ina, T.S.; Piruzian, E.S.
Genetika 20(6): 924-932
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0016-6758 PMID: 6086455 Document Number: 238647
Properties of mud mutations affecting intracellular development of bacteriophage Mu have been studied. We demonstrate pleiotropy of these mutations as well as their effect on the development of Mu-like heteroimmune D108 phage and P1 phage, on the ability to inherit Mu prophage within the chromosome during conjugation, and the abortive inheritance of chromosomal markers during P1 transduction. Experimental evidence is given to support the concept that the effect of the mutations has no relation to the mutants' impaired ability to adsorb the phages. Genetic analysis which involved conjugational crossings using different Hfr donors and F' plasmids made it possible to localize the mud-1 mutation between ilv and metE genes in the region of 84-85 min of the Escherichia coli K-12 genetic map. The nature of mutations and a possible functional role of the mud-impaired gene is discussed.