title: Marinomonas mediterranea is a lysogenic bacterium that synthesizes R-bodies.
abstract: The melanogenic marine bacterium Marinomonas mediterranea synthesizes R-bodies as revealed by transmission electron microscopy. These structures were previously described in some obligate symbionts of paramecia and some free-living bacteria, none of which was isolated from sea water. In other micro-organisms, the synthesis of R-bodies has been related to extrachromosomal elements. Accordingly, M. mediterranea induction by mitomycin C or UV radiation resulted in the production of defective phages resembling bacteriocins, indicating that it is a lysogenic bacterium. Two mitomycin-C-resistant strains defective in prophage replication have been isolated. These mutants, and the previously obtained strains ngC1, T102 and T103, the latter mutated in the ppoS gene encoding a sensor histidine kinase, are affected not only in phage replication but also in polyphenol oxidase activities and melanin synthesis, suggesting a relationship between the control of all these processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hernández-Romero
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lucas-Elío
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: López-Serrano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Amat
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020563:Gammaproteobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology*; D008242:Lysogeny; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016685:Mitomycin