Physical Heterogeneity Among Bacillus Subtilis Deoxyribonucleic Acid Molecules Carrying Particular Genetic Markers

Overview

Journal J Bacteriol

Publisher American Society for Microbiology

Specialty Microbiology

Date 1969 Jun 1

PMID 4977986

Citations 29

Authors

C R Stewart

Affiliations

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Abstract

In a Bacillus subtilis deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) preparation, extracted and purified by the Marmur procedure, the DNA molecules carrying a particular marker are heterogeneous with respect to molecular weight, buoyant density, and thermal stability. This finding constitutes evidence against unique points of breakage during DNA isolation. The variation in buoyant density suggests a local compositional heterogeneity in the chromosomal region of certain markers. The variation in molecular weight provides an explanation for the results of certain transformation experiments that are otherwise poorly understood. An example of such a result is the observation that acridine orange increases the efficiency of differential thermal inactivation of markers. An explanation of this phenomenon is suggested by the demonstration that acridine orange can decrease the natural intramarker heterogeneity in melting behavior.

Citing Articles

Genetic and enzymic studies on the recombination process in Bacillus subtilis.

Mazza G, Fortunato A, Ferrari E, Canosi U, Falaschi A, Polsinelli M Mol Gen Genet. 1975; 136(1):9-30.

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Properties of a Bacillus subtilis strain lacking DNA polymerase I.

Villani G, Canosi U, Fortunato A, Mazza G, Polsinelli M, Falaschi A Nucleic Acids Res. 1974; 1(3):461-77.

PMID: 10793679 PMC: 344029. DOI: 10.1093/nar/1.3.461.

A cytotoxic early gene of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SPO1.

Wei P, Stewart C J Bacteriol. 1993; 175(24):7887-900.

PMID: 8253678 PMC: 206967. DOI: 10.1128/jb.175.24.7887-7900.1993.

Distribution of bacteriophage phi 3T homologous deoxyribonucleic acid sequences in Bacillus subtilis 168, related bacteriophages, and other Bacillus species.

Stroynowski I J Bacteriol. 1981; 148(1):91-100.

PMID: 6793558 PMC: 216170. DOI: 10.1128/jb.148.1.91-100.1981.

Biological assay of prokaryotic genes in mouse cells following DNA mediated transformation.

Yoder J, Ganesan A Mol Gen Genet. 1981; 181(4):525-31.

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