Self-transfer and genetic recombination mediated by P, the sex factor of Vibrio cholerae.
Vibrio cholerae cells, infected with the sex factor P, produce discrete, plaque-like clearings when plated on lawns of P(-) cells. We investigated the nature of these clearings and conclude that they are probably sites of active mating. We developed a quantitative assay for P(+) cells and used it to study the kinetics of sex factor spread in broth cultures. Both established and newly infected donor populations were efficient sex factor donors, indicating that P is not self-repressed. We also investigated the kinetics of recombinant formation in broth matings. In 1-hr matings, we routinely found recombination frequencies of 10(-6) per donor cell. Kinetic studies of recombinant formation showed that the markers tested all appeared at early times. Thus P, the V. cholerae sex factor, seems to resemble F in its transfer properties.
D000362:Agar; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005827:Genetics, Microbial; D007700:Kinetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014733:Vibrio; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000254:growth & development
D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D000362:Agar