INHIBITION BY PERIODATE OF MATING IN ESCHERICHIA COLI K-12

Abstract

Periodate, and to a lesser extent, persulfate and perborate, devirilize the male mating types of E coli K-12. The devirilized cells can still act as females, however, and female mating types are not affected by periodate at the relevant concentrations. Devirilized cells recover their virility after about 2 hours in broth culture. The action of periodate appears to be to prevent the formation of mating pairs, probably by altering the surface properties of male cells. The effect is consistent with an oxidation of glycol links in a polysaccharide on the surface of male cells. Treatment of F+ cells with periodate also makes them unable to transmit the F agent by infection.