This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Johnson, E. M. Articles by Baron, L. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Johnson, E. M. Articles by Baron, L. S.

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

¹ Department of Bacterial Immunology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C. 20012

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, II, 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 II, 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 II; 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.