Electron microscopy of single-stranded structures in the DNA of competent Haemophilus influenzae cells
Open Access
- 31 January 1987
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in Journal of Bacteriology
- Vol. 169 (2), 565-571
- https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.169.2.565-571.1987
Abstract
Chromosomal DNAs from exponential-phase and competent cells of Haemophilus influenzae were examined by electron microscopy to determine whether the chromosome undergoes structural changes during competence development. Single-stranded gaps and single-stranded tails formed in chromosomal DNA during competence development. The generation of gaps was dependent on the rec-2 function. Since the rec-2 mutant is defective in the translocation of donor DNA, it was inferred that the gaps were involved in the translocation step of transformation. The generation of single-stranded tails was independent of the rec-1 and rec-2 genes. Therefore, these structures were assumed to play no direct role in the interaction of donor and recipient DNAs during transformation. Gaps were preferentially associated with a readily denaturable, possibly A + T-rich fraction of the genome. This finding raised the possibility that hot spots for transformation might be associated with A + T-rich DNA.This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit:
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