[Genetic control of plasmid F' formation. II. Role of recipient recA- in the process of plasmid F' formation].

We have chosen the process of F'-plasmid formation as a model for a study of the illegitimate, recA-independent recombination. Our genetic data showed that F'-formation was under genetic control of the Hfr donor cells. To determine the role of recipient cells in the process of F-prime formation we compared the pattern of transconjugant formation in the crosses of Hfr and F' donors with the recA-nalA+ and recA-nalA- recipients, nalA- mutation in the recipient lead to the sharp decrease of the total yield of transconjugants selected for proximal markers and decrease the fraction of conjugative plasmids in progeny. The plasmids inherited in the nalA- recipient in HfrxF- crosses possess only proximal selected markers while the appropriate distribution of proximal and more distal markers took place in the nalA+ recipient. The homogeneity for the sensitivity of nalA- progeny to the male specific phages in comparison with the nalA+ transconjugants was also observed. The data obtained show that the nalA- mutation has a strong influence on the process of final inheritance and probably formation of F'-plasmids in the recipient cells. The extent of the influence of the nalA- mutation on the pattern of F'-plasmid inheritance was dependent upon the primary F' structure formed (or existed) in the donor cell.