Mutants of Escherichia coli Unable to Make Protein at 42 C

Members of a collection of mutants of Escherichia coli unable to form colonies on nutrient agar at 42 C have been characterized on the basis of their growth response to a shift from 32 to 42 C in liquid medium. Forty-four mutants, which show an abrupt, nonlethal cessation of growth when moved to the restrictive temperature, have been characterized with respect to the effect of the mutation responsible for temperature sensitivity on deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, and protein synthesis. In 12 mutants, the mutation causing temperature sensitivity of growth primarily affects protein synthesis, in each case through an altered aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase. Mutants with temperature-sensitive glutamyl-, phenylalanyl-, and valyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetases have been obtained, and the genes specifying these enzymes have been mapped by conjugation and transduction. Another mutant has been shown to possess a temperature-sensitive tryptophanyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase, but this is not responsible for inability to grow at 42 C on media containing tryptophan.