title: Tn916 insertional inactivation of multiple genes on the chromosome of Streptococcus mutans GS-5.
abstract: Streptococcus mutans GS-5 was transformed with the Escherichia coli plasmid pAM150 containing the cloned streptococcal transposon Tn916. Southern blot analyses with the tetracycline-resistant determinant of Tn916 showed that Tn916 was inserted into the chromosome of S. mutans at a variety of different sites. Tn916 insertions resulted in the inactivation of genes that code for various steps in the biosynthesis of several different amino acids. Two auxotrophs which contained a single copy of Tn916 were shown to revert to prototrophy at frequencies of about 10(-8). All of the revertant prototrophs were susceptible to tetracycline, indicating regeneration of the functional gene by excision of Tn916.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Procino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marri
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Shockman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daneo-Moore
mesh_terms: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D009154:Mutation; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial