| Abstract: | Mutants of Penicillium chrysogenum and Streptomyces clavuligerus have been isolated on the basis of increased sensitivity to far ultraviolet light far (u.v). In the former case the strain was also sensitive to a wide range of other mutagens, including alkylating agents and ionising radiations, but proved not to be hypermutable by any of these, whereas in S. clavuligerus two strains were hypermutable relative to their wild- type progenitor when treated with far u.v. In addition, various environmental conditions, including liquid holding and treatment with caffeine, isoniazid and nalidixic acid, increased mutant yield. The results obtained clearly show that induced mutation frequency can be enhanced both by mutation of genes involved in DNA repair and by modification of environmental conditions during or after mutagenic treatment. The importance of this and other modern developments in mutagenesis for the design of rational industrial strain-improvement programmes is discussed. |
