Modification by an R determinant for streptomycin of hissd phenotype in a mutant strain of Escherichia coli B

Abstract

When an R determinant for streptomycin is transferred into a conditionally streptomycin-dependent E. coli B mutant—which requires in minimal medium either histidine or streptomycin—the latter behaves like a histidineless strain. This phenotype modification shows that the repairing action of streptomycin is prevented. The specific requirement of the strain is not now replaced even by streptomycin concentrations up to 10000 µg/ml at which the conditionally streptomycin-dependent mutant could originally grow, and which are well beyond the resistance level characteristic of the R determinant itself. These data seem to suggest that a reduction in permeability of the cell membrane cannot be held responsible for the phenomenon observed.