| Abstract: | The fate of transforming deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in Bacillus subtilis was studied by isolating the DNA-membrane complex on Renografin gradients. Soon after uptake, transforming DNA binds to the cell membrane and displays a greater resistance to shear than the recipient genome-membrane complex. Ten minutes after uptake, a portion of the donor DNA is released from the membrane. Most of the released donor radioactivity represents unintegrated, biologically inactive DNA. Recombinant or integrated DNA is enriched 1.5- to 1.7-fold in the membrane. This enrichment last at least 30 min after termination of DNA uptake, and probably much longer. The data suggest that transforming DNA may be integrated into the recipient genome on, or close to, the cell membrane. |
