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. 1973 Sep;115(3):1103–1107. doi: 10.1128/jb.115.3.1103-1107.1973

Isolation of a Mutant of Escherichia coli Defective in Cytosine-Specific Deoxyribonucleic Acid Methylase Activity and in Partial Protection of Bacteriophage λ Against Restriction by Cells Containing the N-3 Drug-Resistance Factor

Stanley Hattman 1, Samuel Schlagman 1, Lawrence Cousens 1
PMCID: PMC246359  PMID: 4353870

Abstract

A mutant (designated mec−) of Escherichia coli F+ 100 endo I−su+ rK−mK+ has been isolated which is defective in cytosine-specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylase activity. The DNA of this mutant, as well as the DNA of phages λ and fd propagated in it, is virtually devoid of 5-methyl-cytosine (MeC); in contrast, the mutation has no significant effect on the level of N6-methyladenine in DNA. Phage λ grown on the mec− mutant is more strongly restricted by N-3-containing cells than is λ grown on the mec+ parent. These results suggest that methylation of certain cytosine residues by the E. coli K-12 enzyme partially protects λ DNA from either the N-3 restriction nuclease or against secondary degradation subsequent to N-3-specific degradation. Analysis of the MeC level in viral and cellular DNA obtained from mec+, mec+ (mN3+), and mec− (mN3+) strains has led to the conclusion that the R-factor controlled DNA-cytosine methylase may be capable of methylating a sequence(s) which is a substrate for the K-12 enzyme.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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