Pl-mediated Transduction of a Gene That Controls Radiation Sensitivity and Capsular Polysaccharide Synthesis from Shigella dysenteriae to Escherichia coli

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Abstract
When Shigella dysenteriae strain 60 is used as a donor and Escherichia coli K-12 strains that are ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive, mucoid, and proline-requiring (Pro − ) are employed as recipients, selection for Pro + yields 2 to 6% nonmucoid clones. All of the nonmucoid clones examined are UV-resistant. Most of the nonmucoid UV-resistant transductants are partial diploids for the genes being studied. When these Shigella-Escherichia hybrids are used as donors with the same E. coli recipients, the cotransduction of Pro + and nonmucoidness is greatly increased (59 to 94% cotransduction). All of these nonmucoid transductants examined were also UV-resistant. The results indicate that Shigella contains an allele (designated Sh proC + ) homologous to proC of E. coli and a second linked allele (designated Sh capR + ) homologous to the capR allele of E. coli . The Sh capR + allele changes the phenotype of certain E. coli strains from mucoid UV-sensitive ( capR6 ) or very sensitive ( cap R9) to nonmucoid and UV-resistant. Unanticipated capR allele interactions in the partial diploid hybrids are described.