%0 Journal Article %A Rastogi, Nalin %A David, Hugo L. %A Rafidinarivo, Elie %T Spheroplast Fusion as a Mode of Genetic Recombination in Mycobacteria %D 1983 %J Microbiology, %V 129 %N 4 %P 1227-1237 %@ 1465-2080 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-129-4-1227 %I Microbiology Society, %X Spheroplasts were prepared from two carotenoid pigment mutants of Mycobacterium aurum named NgR9 and A11, which were obtained by the chemical mutagenesis of the wild type strain A+ with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The carotenoid pigments and the a- and -mycolic acids were taken as genetic markers and the recombinants were selected on the basis of their colour on Lwenstein-Jensen medium. Spheroplasts of the two mutants were mixed in a 1:1 ratio and were treated with 40 % (w/v) polyethylene glycol 6000 for 5 min at 37 C. The frequency of NgR9 A11, recombination in optimal conditions was about 2·5 × 10−3. The recombinants selected on the basis of their carotenoid pigment profile were also tested for their α- and β-mycolic acids as a second genetic marker. The results were further confirmed by electron microscopy. The optimal conditions, for spheroplast fusion as a mode of genetic recombination in M. aurum are described. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-129-4-1227