Characterization of the F transfer cistron, traL

Abstract

The properties of two transfer-deficient Flac mutants (in Escherichia coli K12) carrying mutations in the cistron traL are described. The traL product is needed for conjugational DNA transfer and for pilus formation, but not for surface exclusion; it is not plasmid-specific. traL maps between traA and traE; one of the traL mutations is apparently polar on traA. The properties of Tra+ revertants of this mutation suggest that the traL product is directly required for F-specific phage infection. © 1973, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.