Specific effects of a recB mutation on the HfrH strain of Escherichia coli

The recB268::Tn10 mutation was introduced into the HfrH strain of Escherichia coli. Compared with recB F- and recB F+ cells, the viability of this mutant strain was much lower. Compared with wild-type HfrH, the recB derivative donated much shorter fragments of its chromosome to the recipient. It is suggested that the recB gene product (i.e., RecBCD enzyme) participates in Hfr transfer.