A system for screening Escherichia coli temperature-sensitive mutants is described. The system involves glucose starvation and minimizes ambiguities introduced by the interdependencies of macromolecular synthesis during balanced growth. The system permits the quick recognition of protein synthesis mutants and their classification into two general catagories. Complete protein synthesis mutants are unable to make any polypeptide material, whereas partial protein synthesis mutants are able to produce inactive proteins. The phenotypes of several mutants are described.
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