Abstract
An Escherichia coli K12 strain, FC40, has been used extensively in the analysis of adaptive mutability. This strain carries a revertible mutant lac allele on an F plasmid and accumulates Lac+ (lactose utilizing) revertants, but not unselected mutants, when placed on selective medium. These adaptive mutations are a subset of spontaneous types and their formation depends on the RecABC functions. Data presented here suggest that this phenomenon depends on transfer functions of the F factor. Fertility inhibition eliminates RecA-dependent adaptive reversion. Thus, "adaptive" revertants may form during replication from the transfer origin, whereas loci in the nonreplicating chromosome show little mutation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 421-423 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Science |
Volume | 268 |
Issue number | 5209 |
State | Published - 1995 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General