Mutator activity in uvs mutants of Aspergillus nidulans

Summary The frequency of selenate-resistant spontaneous mutants was determined among the conidia of two uvs⁺, two allelic uvsB, one uvsD, three allelic uvsC and three allelic uvsE strains of Aspergillus nidulans. In the uvsB, uvsD, uvsC and uvsE mutants the median frequencies of mutation were respectively 1.7, 1.8, 8.7 and 4.0 times as high as in the uvs⁺ strains. The selenate resistance resulted from mutation at the chromosomal loci sB or sC. It is concluded that the uvs alleles enhance spontaneous mutation in chromosomal genes.