Interspecies transformation in Bacillus: mechanism of heterologous intergenote transformation

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Abstract
B. subtilis-B. globigii hybrids were made by integration of the B. globigii aromatic region (aroB to aroE) as an integenoate in the B. subtilis chromosome. Transformation of the heterologous intergenoate by B. subtilis DNA (or vice versa) occurred at about 10% of the frequency of homologous transformations by hybrid donors into the same region. Heterologous intergenoate crosses were unusually sensitive to shear fragmentations of donor DNA to sizes less than 30 .times. 106 to 40 .times. 106 daltons. In all cases, the entire intergenoate was transferred en block. Homologous transformation of intergenoate markers by B. globigii DNA was not unusually shear sensitive, and linkage was normal for markers in the intergenoate. A model is proposed in which efficient heterologous intergenoate transformation occurs by recognition and base pairing of homologous DNA sequences on both flanks of the intergenote.