The isolation and characterization of gliding motility mutants of Myxococcus xanthus

Abstract

Nonmotile and motility-altered mutants of M. xanthus were obtained by the use of chemical mutagens, UV irradiation and a procedure for selecting spontaneous mutants. As judged by their behavior on a variety of growth media, in both plate and slide culture, the mutants were divided into 4 groups. One group contains mutants which are truly nonmotile. M. xanthus NM, previously described as a nonmotile mutant, may be similar to type 3 mutants.