Acid-soluble breakdown of homologous deoxyribonucleic acid adsorbed by Haemophilus influenzae: its biological significance

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1974 · J. Bacteriol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7358581

Stuy, J H

Competent bacteria of Haemophilus influenzae strain Rd were exposed to various kinds of radioactive deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for short periods of time and at relatively low temperature. The fate of phage HP1 DNA was studied most extensively. Adsorbed DNA was partially acid solubilized by lysogens and by nonlysogens with very similar kinetics. The biological activity of the DNA decreased extensively in both lysogenic and nonlysogenic recipients. 2,4-Dinitrophenol had no effect on the acid solubilization but largely abolished the biological inactivation. Inactivation kinetics for three different markers and for the triple combination were roughly the same. The presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol in the medium, or the HP1 prophage in the chromosome, did not alter this observation. This suggests that acid solubilization involves the destruction of whole DNA molecules. In view of the absence of DNA homology between phage and host, it is concluded that acid-soluble breakdown of adsorbed transforming DNA is not an integral part of the donor DNA integration process. Behavior of mutant bacteria indicates that neither exonuclease III nor exonuclease V is involved.

• Research Organization: Florida State Univ., Tallahassee
• OSTI ID: 7358581
• Journal Information: J. Bacteriol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Bacteriol.; (United States) Vol. 120:2; ISSN JOBAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550400* -- Genetics
560130 -- Radiation Effects on Microorganisms
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACTERIA
BACTERIOPHAGES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DNA
GENETIC EFFECTS
GENETIC RADIATION EFFECTS
HAEMOPHILUS
INACTIVATION
INHIBITION
ISOTOPES
KINETICS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEI
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PHOSPHORUS 32
PHOSPHORUS ISOTOPES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTION KINETICS
VIRUSES