title: Characterization of plasmid transformation in Bacillus subtilis: kinetic properties and the effect of DNA conformation.
abstract: Transformation of competent cells of Bacillus subtilis with antibiotic resistance plasmid DNA has shown that (a) competence for plasmid and chromosomal DNA develops with similar kinetics; (b) DNA linearized with a variety of restriction endonucleases does not transform; (c) CCC plasmid DNA is inactivated for transformation by a single nick; (d) T4 ligase restores transforming activity to both nicked and linearized DNA; (E) CCC relaxed DNA is fully active in transformation; (f) the DNA concentration-dependence of plasmid transformation is first order; and (g) plasmid transformation proceeds with a low efficiency, requiring the uptake of 10(3) to 10(4) DNA molecules per transformant. Based on this information, a model for the processing of chromosomal, plasmid and transfecting DNA is proposed.
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010957:Plasmids; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial