Factors Influencing the Recovery of Biochemical Mutants in Luminous Bacteria.

In an effort to obtain a clearer understanding of the relationship between luminescence in bacteria and the metabolic processes concerned with growth, attempts have been made to induce and recover biochemical mutants that would affect these two systems differentially. Since Beadle and Tatum (1945) have clearly shown in their investigations on the mold Neurospora crassa that it is possible by mutation to block at specific points the synthesis of factors required for growth, it seemed likely that such an approach to a study of the luminescent reaction would yield fruitful results. Attempts have been made, therefore, to obtain specific biochemical mutants in the luminous bacterium, Achromobacter fischeri. However, it was found that the rate of induction of biochemical mutants was very low in these bacteria, even after treatment with such mutagenic agents as X-rays, ultraviolet, and nitrogen mustard. Consequently the search for specific biochemical mutants was greatly impeded. Results that have recently been obtained throw light on the various factors involved in the recovery of biochemical mutants in these organisms and appear to be of general interest.