Cloning of a recA-like gene of Proteus mirabilis.

A gene of Proteus mirabilis that can substitute for functions of the recA gene of Escherichia coli has been cloned into the plasmid pBR322, using shotgun experiments. The recA-like gene (recAp.m.) has been localized by restriction mapping within a 1.5-Md PstI fragment that is a part of two cloned HindIII fragments of the chromosome of P. mirabilis. The restriction map of the recAp.m. gene differs from that of the recA gene of E. coli. Functionally, the recombinant plasmids containing the recAp.m. gene restore a nearly wild-type level of UV-resistance to several point and deletion mutants in the recA gene of E. coli.