Can mutation rate be increased for instance by mutagenesis targeting the DNA polymerase?

Question

I am studying a non-cultivable bacterium living in an insect host, and I would like to generate some random mutants of this bacteria while preserving the insect. I am wondering if one way to do so might be to use directed mutagenesis directed towards the bacterial polymerase, which would leads it to increase the error rate. - Does any one has already seen a study with this kind of approach? - Does any one knows or guess another way to obtain some random mutants of the bacteria while preserving the host insect?

Answer 1

When bacteria activate the SOS system a second DNA polymerase is activated that is more error prone. This is a possibility, but it is a bit more random. Another possibility is to use a phage mediated transposon library, but even this is somewhat difficult. Of course using some of the advances with CRISPR you could do this too. The shorter your sgRNA is the more random the gene disruptions/ knockouts will be. Contact me for more information.