Molecular cloning of two linked loci that increase the transformability of transformation-deficient mutants of Haemophilus influenzae.

A plasmid containing a 13.3-kb insert (pER194) was isolated from an EcoRI genomic library of Haemophilus influenzae on the basis of its ability to increase the transformability of the transformation-deficient mutants Com-78 and Com-101. The plasmid failed to increase the transformability of the Rec-1 and Rec-2 mutants, indicating that the mutations producing the Com-78 and Com-101 phenotypes are distinct from those giving rise to the Rec-1 and Rec-2 phenotypes. The physical mapping of the cloned fragment on the H. influenzae chromosome was found to be consistent with the genetic mapping of the Com-101 trait. A 2.8-kb EcoRI-BglII subfragment, representing one end of the 13.3-kb clone, was found to increase the transformation frequency of the Com-78 and Com-101 mutants when supplied in trans, indicating that the subfragment carries one or more loci required for chromosomal transformation. The corresponding region of the Com-101 chromosome was determined by hybridization analysis to contain a 0.3-kb insertion, suggesting that the Com-101 strain may contain an insertion mutation at this locus. A 3.0-kb EcoRI-MluI subfragment, representing the other end of the 13.3-kb EcoRI fragment, was found to increase the transformation frequency of the Com-101 mutant but not of the Com-78 mutant, suggesting that the Com-101 phenotype results from a complex genotype involving mutations at two or more transformation-related loci. This conclusion is consistent with data indicating that the Com-101 trait can be genetically separated into at least two components.