Recombinant F' factors from Escherichia coli K-12 strains carrying recB or recC

The frequency of genetic exchanges between F' factors and the bacterial chromosome was studied in recombination-deficient Escherichia coli mutants under conditions in which the recombinant F' factors were immediately transferred to new hosts. In a series of double matings, F101-1 thr(+)leu(-) episomes were first transferred into each of four intermediate F(-)thr(-)leu(+) strains carrying various rec alleles. After the original F' donors were killed with phage T6, the F101-1 episomes were then transferred from the intermediate cells to F(-)thr(-)leu(-)Str(R)recA(-) females. Recipients of nonrecombinant episomes formed Thr(+) (Str(R)) colonies, and recipients of recombinant episomes formed Leu(+)(Str(R)) colonies. A comparison of the numbers of Leu(+)(Str(R)) and Thr(+)(Str(R)) colonies shows that recB(-) males formed 18 to 21% and recC(-) formed 47 to 60% of the wild-type level of recombinant episomes that could be detected after transfer. No recombinant episomes were detected using a recA(-) intermediate strain. If the intermediate strains harboring the F101 episomes were purified, allowed to grow for 50 generations, and then mated with the recA(-) recipient, recombinant episomes were transferred at 8% of the wild-type level for recB(-) and 13% for recC(-). In contrast, only 0.4 and 0.6% of the normal number of recombinants were obtained from crosses between Hfr Cavalli donors and the same recB(-) and recC(-) strains. Recombinant episomes were detected with greater frequency among newly formed rec(+), recB(-), and recC(-) partial diploids than in those which were 50 generations old.