Fate of Transforming Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Bacillus Subtilis.

Venema, G. (Hammersmith Hospital, London, England), R. H. Prtichard, and T. Venema-Schröder. Fate of transforming deoxyribonucleic acid in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 89:1250-1255. 1965.-Donor deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) introduced into competent recipient cells of Bacillus subtilis undergoes a transient loss of its transforming activity shortly after uptake; transforming activity reappears as a function of time of incubation. Soon after introduction of donor DNA into the cells, joint activity of donor and recipient markers is present; this activity also increases as a function of time of incubation. However, donor marker recovery and appearance of recombinant-type activity have different kinetics, suggesting that recovery of activity of donor DNA after the eclipse phase and integration are separate processes, and that recovery precedes integration. The appearance of recombinant-type activity is independent of DNA synthesis. It is suggested that only one strand of the donor DNA is integrated in transformation. It is, therefore, possible that the eclipse is due to a phase in the transformation process during which the donor DNA is single stranded.