Transformation analysis of three linkage groups in Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

While studying a set of multiply marked mutants of hisGbl5 aureus strain 8325 by tansformation, several instances of apparent genetic linkage were encountered. After showing that these linked transformations were readily inactivated by shearing of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) but were resistant to dilution of the DNA, and showing that mixtures of DNA failed to form double transformants, it was concluded that the linkages were legitimate rather than the result of congression. Three linkage groups were defined: thy 101 lys 115 trp 103 thr 106, pyr 141 his Gb15 nov pur 102, and pur 110 ilv 129. The positions of the previously studied trp and his operons corresponded to the trp 103 and hisGb15 loci. The ilv 129 position adjacent to pur 110 probably corresponds to the ilv leu gene cluster. The distance over which linkage was detected was greater by transformation than by generalized transduction.