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1: Science. 1995 Apr 21;268(5209):421-3.Click here to read Links
Comment in:
Science. 1995 Apr 21;268(5209):373-4.
Science. 1995 Jul 21;269(5222):285-8.
Science. 1995 Jul 21;269(5222):289.

Evidence that F plasmid transfer replication underlies apparent adaptive mutation.

Galitski T, Roth JR.

Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112, USA.

An Escherichia coli K12 strain, FC40, has been used extensively in the analysis of adaptive mutability. This strain carries a revertible mutant lac allele on an F plasmid and accumulates Lac+ (lactose utilizing) revertants, but not unselected mutants, when placed on selective medium. These adaptive mutations are a subset of spontaneous types and their formation depends on the RecABC functions. Data presented here suggest that this phenomenon depends on transfer functions of the F factor. Fertility inhibition eliminates RecA-dependent adaptive reversion. Thus, "adaptive" revertants may form during replication from the transfer origin, whereas loci in the nonreplicating chromosome show little mutation.

PMID: 7716546 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]