The isolation and characterization of gliding motility mutants of Myxococcus xanthus.

Nonmotile and motility-altered mutants of Myxococcus xanthus have been obtained by the use of chemical mutagens, ultraviolet irradiation, and a procedure for selective spontaneous mutants. As judged by their behaviour on a variety of growth media, in both plate and slide culture, the mutants were divided into four groups. One group contains mutants which are truly nonmotile. Myxococcus xanthus NM, previously described as a nonmotile mutant, may be similar to type 3 mutants (described in text).