Properties of r Mutants of Bacteriophage T4 Photodynamically Induced in the Presence of Thiopyronin and Psoralen

About 4 x 10(-4)r mutants were induced per lethal hit, a frequency characteristic of weak mutagens. Collections of mutants produced in the presence of either dye were indistinguishable in most of their properties. The rII mutants differed sharply from spontaneous mutants in their mutational spectra (fine scale map distribution) and their reversion responses to specific mutagens. Few or none of the induced mutants were induced to revert with proflavine (sign mutants; reading frame shift mutants). A majority were induced to revert with base analogues (base pair substitution mutants), and about half of these also responded to the hydroxymethylcytosine-specific agent hydroxylamine. A large minority of the mutants reverted spontaneously but failed to respond either to proflavine or to base analogues. We believe these mutants, as well as some of the mutants which did respond to base analogues, to be transversions (base pair substitutions which reverse the purine-pyrimidine orientation).     

A CYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF CYTOPLASMIC BASIC PROTEINS IN THE ASCIDIAN OOCYTE

The cytoplasm of young oocytes of the ascidians contains high concentrations of proteins which are stainable with alkaline fast green at pH 8.1 and above. These proteins cannot be stained even with acid dyes at low pH unless RNA is removed. Deamination and formalin blockage of amino groups is incapable of destroying the net positive charge on these protein molecules in the presence of RNA, but these treatments destroy the charge if RNA is removed. It is therefore concluded that basic proteins and RNA exist as a nucleoprotein complex in the ribosomes of these young oocytes. The detectable RNA of the mature oocytes and unfertilized eggs shows no evidence of being associated with basic proteins.     

Organization of the bacterial chromosome.

Recent progress in studies on the bacterial chromosome is summarized. Although the greatest amount of information comes from studies on Escherichia coli, reports on studies of many other bacteria are also included. A compilation of the sizes of chromosomal DNAs as determined by pulsed-field electrophoresis is given, as well as a discussion of factors that affect gene dosage, including redundancy of chromosomes on the one hand and inactivation of chromosomes on the other hand. The distinction between a large plasmid and a second chromosome is discussed. Recent information on repeated sequences and chromosomal rearrangements is presented. The growing understanding of limitations on the rearrangements that can be tolerated by bacteria and those that cannot is summarized, and the sensitive region flanking the terminator loci is described. Sources and types of genetic variation in bacteria are listed, from simple single nucleotide mutations to intragenic and intergenic recombinations. A model depicting the dynamics of the evolution and genetic activity of the bacterial chromosome is described which entails acquisition by recombination of clonal segments within the chromosome. The model is consistent with the existence of only a few genetic types of E. coli worldwide. Finally, there is a summary of recent reports on lateral genetic exchange across great taxonomic distances, yet another source of genetic variation and innovation.     

Initiation and culture of potato tuber callus tissue with picloram

Callus cultures of 7 potato cultivars were initiated from tuber tissue and maintained on Gelrite-solidified media with 1–20 M picloram as the only PGR. Ten M picloram was the optimal concentration for callus induction. By 4–6 weeks after explanting, there was sufficient callus produced for subculture to maintenance media which contained 1–20 M picloram as the only PGR. When grown in the dark at 25°C, subcultured callus typically increased 10-fold in wet weight in 4–5 weeks. The callus produced was friable and a light grey to cream color. Callus cultures were used to establish cell suspension cultures. Callus and cell suspension cultures have been maintained for over 2 years on the picloram containing media.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - MS Murashige-Skoog - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - PGR plant growth regulator Research paper #9053 of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Low synonymous site variation at thelacY locus inEscherichia coli suggests the action of positive selection

We have determined the nucleotide sequences of sevenlacY alleles isolated from natural isolates ofEscherichia coli. Nucleotide heterozygosity estimates for this locus were compared to those obtained from previous studies of intraspecific variation at chromosomal loci, revealing thatlacY has unusually low synonymous site variation. The average pairwise heterozygosity of synonymous sites (Ks=0.0112+/-0.0100) is the second lowest reported and the lowest for loci that have an equivalent level of nonsynonymous variation. We consider several hypotheses to explain how different forces in evolution could act to create the observed pattern of polymorphism, including selection for translational efficiency and positive selection. Our analysis most strongly supports the hypothesis that positive selection has acted on thelacY locus inE. coli.     

Homology among nearly all plasmids infecting three Bacillus species.

We have surveyed naturally occurring plasmids in strains of Bacillus subtilis and the closely related species B. mojavensis and B. licheniformis. Previous studies have failed to find host-benefitting functions for plasmids of these species, suggesting that these plasmids are nonmutualistic. Only one type of plasmid was found in each plasmid-bearing strain, suggesting that most of the plasmids infecting these Bacillus species are in the same incompatibility group. A sample of 18 plasmids from these species ranged in size from 6.9 to 16 kb, with all but 6 plasmids falling into three size groups. These groups differed in the sizes of their host ranges and geographical ranges. All but 1 of the 18 plasmids from these three host species are homologous with one another. The cryptic plasmids from these three species are far less diverse than are plasmids (from other species) that are known to benefit their bacterial hosts. The low-level diversity among these cryptic plasmids is consistent with the hypothesis that host-benefitting adaptations play an important role in fostering the coexistence of plasmid populations, but other explanations for the low-level plasmid diversity are possible. Comparison of the phylogenies of the plasmids with those of their hosts suggests that Bacillus plasmids are horizontally transferred in nature at a low rate similar to that found for the colicin plasmids of Escherichia coli.