DNA from alkalophilic Bacillus can transform B. subtilis to alkalophily

On incubation of B. subtilis RM125(arg 15 leuA8 rM- mM-) with DNA from alkalophilic Bacillus, the transformants (Arg+Leu- or Leu-Arg+) appeared at pH 10. The transformants were able to grow even at pH 7. Alkalophilic Bacillus was resistant to bacteriophages ø105D1C2.1012 grown on B. subtilis 1012(r-mM+) and ø105D1C2.ISMR4 grown on B. subtilis ISMR4(rM+rR+mM+mR+), but the recipient B. subtilis and the transformant(Arg+Leu-) were susceptible to both of the bacteriophages. The results indicate that the transformant is a B. subtilis derivative and that alkalophilicity of alkalophilic Bacillus was transferred to B. subtilis.