Studies on transduction process by SPP1 phage

The conditions for optimal transduction efficiency of the Bacillus subtilis phage SPP1 have been investigated. By irradiating transducing lysates with u.v. light we have been able to obtain a fivefold increase in the number of transductants and to reduce strongly the interference caused by infective particles. Any dependence of SPP1 transduction on PBSX induction has been ruled out by the use of xin mutants, which are unable to induce the defective phage. SPP1 mediated transduction is susceptible to the restriction and modification system of B. subtilis. The rec functions involved in the recombination of the SPP1 transduced DNA fragment are probably identical to those required in DNA transformation and heterologous PBS1 transduction.