Hyper-recombination in dam mutants of Escherichia coli K-12.

F-prime heterogenotes of dam-3 bacteria segregate F-prime homogenotes at a frequency 30-200 times higher than the isogenic dam+ strain. A hyperrecombination mutant which shows increased recombination between chromosomal duplications was characterized as a dam mutant. The dam-3 allele causes a reduction in linkage of proximal unselected markers in transconjugants and increases the recombination frequency between a pair of closely linked markers. It is concluded that dam mutations confer a hyperrecombination phenotype to the cell.