Defects in fruiting body development caused by Tn5 lac insertions in Myxococcus xanthus.

Mutations caused by insertions of Tn5 lac that block development are rare. At least six of the eight mutations examined appeared to be regulatory. Three of these were found to disrupt social motility, suggesting a particular importance for this function. One other occurred in a known cell-cell interaction gene, bsgA, and the remaining two were located in genes operative early in the developmental program.