Plasmid transformation in Bacillus subtilis: Symmetry of gene conversion in transformation with a hybrid plasmid containing chromosomal DNA

Summary Allele transfer (conversion) was analyzed in transformations with a Cm^R determining hybrid plasmid, which contained a chromosomal gene controlling threonine prototrophy. In transformations, where a thr ⁺-cell was transformed with the thr ^- plasmid, the chromosomal allele was efficiently converted to the plasmid genotype. This process of gene conversion was rec dependent and greatly enhanced when monomeric rather than unfractionated plasmid DNA was used.