DNA from alkalophilic Bacillus can transform B. subtilis to alkalophily

AbstractOn incubation of B. subtilis RM125(arg15 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 π105D1C2·1012 grown on B. subtilis 1012(r-mM+) and π105D1C2·ISMR4 grown on B. subtilis ISMR4rM+rR+mM+mR+), but the recipient B. subtilis and the transformant(Arg+Leu−) were susceptible to both the 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