[Capacity of Bacillus mesentericus for certain kinds of genetic exchange]

Some strains of Bacillus mesentericus have an ability for transformation, transfection and transduction. The efficiency of transduction was within the same range as in Bac. subtilis 168, the efficiency of transformation being significantly lower. A fragment of Bac. mesentericus DNA coding for indole glycerophosphate synthetase synthesis was cloned in Bac. subtilis cells. In this case, manifestation of TrpC2 mutation inhibiting synthesis of this enzyme in Bac. subtilis, was abolished. This suggests that some enzymes of Bac. mesentericus were active in Bac. subtilis cells.