Deletion Map of the Escherichia coli K-12 Sex Factor F: the Order of Eleven Transfer Cistrons

A series of Hfr deletion mutants was isolated. These mutants contain deletions which extend from a λ prophage into an Flac which is integrated into thegal operon. Transfer-deficient deletion mutants were found to fall into four different phenotypic groups when tested for male- and female-specific phage resistance. Conjugational and transductional complementation tests with Flac point mutants deficient in transfer (tra − ) were performed, and the order of 11tra cistrons was determined. Thetra genes are all located between an F gene for the inhibition of female-specific phages and the transposedlac operon originally carried by the Flac . The order of genes in the Hfr studied was established to be:pro C... φII R ...traJ traA traE traK traB traC traF traH traG traD traI...lac...attλ...bio .