Genetic variability among archival cultures of Salmonella typhimurium.
The existence in our laboratory of over 10000 Salmonella typhimurium LT2 cultures sealed in agar stab vials for 33-46 years offers an opportunity for evolutionary and mutational studies. In each of 77 vials examined, 10(3)-10(5) colony forming units per vial were recovered (less than 0.01% of the original population) even after decades of undisturbed storage. Considerable genetic variability was observed in these populations. Three genetic variables, chromosome fragment size as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, extensive mutational reversions from nutritional auxotrophy to prototrophy, and differences in protein content as assayed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, were measured.
Edwards
K
K
Cancer Research Center, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.
Linetsky
I
I
Hueser
C
C
Eisenstark
A
A
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000379:methods; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D009154:Mutation; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000235:genetics*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins