Isolation of recombination-defective and UV-sensitive mutants of Bacillus megaterium

Abstract

Mutants of Bacillus megaterium QMB1551 sensitive to mitomycin C or methyl methanesulfonate were isolated and characterized phenotypically. Cell survival after UV-light and gamma-ray exposure was determined, as was transductional recombination. Of the mutants tested, three were sensitive to UV but remained recombination proficient. The UV-sensitive mutants were also reduced in host cell reactivation. At least three mutants had undetectable transduction frequencies, i.e., less than 0.3 to 1.3% of the parental strain frequencies, and so appear to be recombination deficient. Sensitivities of these mutant strains to UV light and gamma radiation were compared with those of parental B. megaterium as well as parental, recE4, recA1, uvrA19, and uvrB109 strains of Bacillus subtilis. In each case, the strains of B. megaterium, including the parental strains, showed a higher percentage of cell survival than B. subtilis.