PROTOPLAST FUSION - A TOOL FOR INTERGENERIC GENE-TRANSFER IN BACTERIA

Protoplasts can be isolated from bacterial cells by digestion of the c ell wall with the help of lysozyme in presence of osmotic stabilizers. Fusion of protoplasts can be induced by chemical fusogens like polyet hylene glycol. The electrofusion technique has been reported in bacter ia in which the fusion frequency is much higher than that obtained by PEG induced protoplast fusion. This technology allows recombination to take place not only between related species but also between unrelate d genera and is of great potential in the breeding and improvement of industrial strains. This review includes the information and developme nts on the protoplast fusion in bacteria with special reference to gen etic recombination by protoplast fusion between phylogenetically unrel ated bacteria.