Interspecies transformation in Bacillus: mechanism of heterologous intergenote transformation

Abstract

Bacillus subtilis-Bacillus globigii hybrids were made by integration of the B. globigii aromatic region (aroB to aroE) as an intergenote in the B. subtillis chromosome. Transformation of the heterologous intergenote by B. subtillis DNA (or vice versa) occurred at about 10% of the frequency of homologous transformation by hybrid donors into the same region. Heterologous intergenote crosses were unusually sensitive to shear fragmentations of donor DNA to sizes less than 30 X 10(6) to 40 X 10(6) daltons. In all cases, the entire intergenote was transferred en bloc. Homologous transformation of intergenote markers by B. globigii DNA was not unusually shear sensitive, and linkage was normal for markers in the intergenote. A model is proposed in which efficient heterologous intergenote transformation occurs by recognition and base pairing of homologous DNA sequences of both flanks of the intergenote.