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 Bernheimer, H. P. Articles by Austrian, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bernheimer, H. P. Articles by Austrian, R.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1968 October; 96(4): 1099-1102
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Mutation in Pneumococcus Type III Affecting Multiple Cistrons Concerned with the Synthesis of Capsular Polysaccharide

^a Downstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Brooklyn, New York 11203

ABSTRACT

The genetic behavior in transformation reactions of 20 noncapsulated mutants of pneumococcus type III suggests that each has a single-site mutation in the locus controlling the synthesis of uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) dehydrogenase. Each strain is capable of yielding transformants of the binary capsular type SI-III when exposed to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from type I cells. One additional mutant reacted differently and behaved as if it were a multisite mutant with the mutation affecting both the locus for UDPG dehydrogenase and that controlling the synthesis of high molecular weight type III capsular polysaccharide. When exposed to DNA from type I pneumococci, this strain yielded transformants which were genotypically binary but which expressed only the type I capsular phenotype.

¹ Present address: Department of Research Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. 19104.