Stimulation of deletions in the Escherichia coli chromosome by partially induced Mucts62 prophages.

Deletion of bacterial DNA fragments is stimulated in induced Mucts62 lysogens. The host genes located proximally to the prophage are more frequently lost than those which are unlinked to the Mu genome. Genes located on either side of a Mu genome are deleted in the same manner. Like the other Mu-induced rearrangements, this process is recA independent and requires the participation of Mu DNA, as indicated by the fact that a phage genome always replaces the deleted genes. Data are presented which strongly suggest that both ends of the Mu genome are involved in deletion formation.