SUMMARY: Resistance factors (R factors), of the kind which confer sensitivity to F specific phage as well as promoting conjugation in enterobacteria determine the production of a pilus similar to the specific pilus seen on F− bacteria. R factors, however, unlike F, also determine the production of a repressor of function: this means that in an established R+ culture, only a small proportion of the bacteria can conjugate, be infected with F phage, or produce the pilus. Under conditions where repression is lifted, the three characters, conjugation, F phage sensitivity and production of the pilus, are coordinately de-repressed.
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