title: Isolation of the rec mutants in Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: A histidine auxotroph (his-) of Staphylococcus aureus MS3937 and mutants sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation were obtained. The UV-sensitive mutants were found also to be sensitive to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and mitomycin C, and their sensitivity was accounted for by a defect in deoxyribonucleic acid repair. Transduction of either chromosomal or plasmid markers to UV-sensitive mutants showed that these staphylococcus mutants are of the recA (reckless) type mutants as reported in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium; therefore the UV-sensitive mutants (uvr-) were renamed recombination-deficient mutants (rec-). The biochemical and genetic properties of these mutants are described, and their usefulness for studies of staphylococcal plasmids is discussed.
mesh_terms: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002470:Cell Survival; D003470:Culture Media; D004260:DNA Repair; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005111:Extrachromosomal Inheritance; D006639:Histidine / Q000378:metabolism; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009153:Mutagens; D009154:Mutation; D009604:Nitrosoguanidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011830:Radiation Effects; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013204:Staphylococcus Phages / Q000528:radiation effects; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008937:Mitomycins; D009153:Mutagens; D009604:Nitrosoguanidines; D006639:Histidine; D013936:Thymidine