Efficient gene transfer in Synechococcus sp. strains PCC 7942 and PCC 6301 by interspecies conjugation and chromosomal recombination

The technique of combining conjugal transfer from Escherichia coli with recombination into PCC 7942 or PCC 6301 chromosome provides an efficient method of genetic transfer. The technique eliminates the need for special vectors and facilitates the rise of all clones as hosts for recombinant libraries. It allows reporter gene insertion after host mutagenesis and enables genetic transformation. Complementation of a histidine autotroph and the identification of a hisS homolog of PCC 7942 using this gene transfer technique are described.