Biomaterial Database

Minicells of Bacillus subtilis. 1973

J N Reeve, and N H Mendelson, and S I Coyne, and L L Hallock, and R M Cole

After nitrosoguanidine (N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine) mutagenesis, two Bacillus subtilis mutants (div IV-A1 and div IV-B1) were isolated that are defective in the location of division site along cell length. Both mutations were transferred into strain CU403 by transformation, and their properties were studied in the CU403 genetic background. Location of divisions in close proximity to cell pole regions in both mutants results in minicell production. Purified minicells contain a ratio of ribonucleic acid to protein comparable to that found in the parent cells. Autoradiographs of (3)H-thymine incorporation into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), thymine-2-(14)C incorporation into DNA, electron micrographs, and chemical analyses for DNA all fail to demonstrate DNA in the minicells. Minicells produced by both mutants are highly motile, an indication of functional energy metabolism. Electron micrographs reveal that minicells are produced by a structurally normal division mechanism and that minicells contain a normal cell surface. The div IV-A1 mutation has been mapped by PBS1 transduction linked to ura. The div IV-B1 mutation is closely linked to pheA by both PBS1 transduction and by co-transformation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008858	Microscopy, Phase-Contrast	A form of interference microscopy in which variations of the refracting index in the object are converted into variations of intensity in the image. This is achieved by the action of a phase plate.	Phase-Contrast Microscopy,Microscopies, Phase-Contrast,Microscopy, Phase Contrast,Phase Contrast Microscopy,Phase-Contrast Microscopies
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D009153	Mutagens	Chemical agents that increase the rate of genetic mutation by interfering with the function of nucleic acids. A clastogen is a specific mutagen that causes breaks in chromosomes.	Clastogen,Clastogens,Genotoxin,Genotoxins,Mutagen
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D009604	Nitrosoguanidines	Nitrosylated derivatives of guanidine. They are used as MUTAGENS in MOLECULAR BIOLOGY research.
D002247	Carbon Isotopes	Stable carbon atoms that have the same atomic number as the element carbon but differ in atomic weight. C-13 is a stable carbon isotope.	Carbon Isotope,Isotope, Carbon,Isotopes, Carbon
D002455	Cell Division	The fission of a CELL. It includes CYTOKINESIS, when the CYTOPLASM of a cell is divided, and CELL NUCLEUS DIVISION.	M Phase,Cell Division Phase,Cell Divisions,Division Phase, Cell,Division, Cell,Divisions, Cell,M Phases,Phase, Cell Division,Phase, M,Phases, M
D002499	Centrifugation, Density Gradient	Separation of particles according to density by employing a gradient of varying densities. At equilibrium each particle settles in the gradient at a point equal to its density. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Centrifugations, Density Gradient,Density Gradient Centrifugation,Density Gradient Centrifugations,Gradient Centrifugation, Density,Gradient Centrifugations, Density
D002874	Chromosome Mapping	Any method used for determining the location of and relative distances between genes on a chromosome.	Gene Mapping,Linkage Mapping,Genome Mapping,Chromosome Mappings,Gene Mappings,Genome Mappings,Linkage Mappings,Mapping, Chromosome,Mapping, Gene,Mapping, Genome,Mapping, Linkage,Mappings, Chromosome,Mappings, Gene,Mappings, Genome,Mappings, Linkage