title: A novel screening method for isolating exopolysaccharide-deficient mutants.
abstract: A screening method based on differential staining of the wild type and exopolysaccharide-deficient mutants of Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) meliloti by the lipophilic dye Sudan Black B is described. Mutants defective in the production of either succinoglycan or EPS II (galactoglucan) were isolated by using this method, which might also prove useful for isolating exopolysaccharide-defective derivatives of other bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D009281:Naphthalenes; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016962:Sinorhizobium meliloti / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C056779:succinoglycan; C016118:Sudan Black B