Initiation of DNA replication in Escherichia coli. II. Effect of rifampicin on the resumption of replication of F episome and chromosome upon the returning of dna mutants from a non-permissive to a permissive temperature.

When E. coli F+ cells carrying the dna-167 or dnaC2 mutation, which causes the temperature-sensitive initiation of DNA replication, are exposed to a non-permissive temperature to stop the replication of chromosome and F factor, and then transferred back to a permissive temperature with the addition of chloramphenicol, one round of the chromosomal replication occurs, but further replication is inhibited. Under these conditions, F DNA replicates coincidentally with the initiation of the chromosomal replication in both strains. When rifampicin is added to the cells upon lowering of the temperature, the chromosome can not replicate in the F+ dna-167 strain, but can do so in the F+ dnaC2 strain. F DNA can replicate in both of the mutant strains under these conditions.