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Effect of inhibition of DNA synthesis on u.v. sensitive Bs strains of Escherichia coli

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

Michael H. L. Green
Affiliation:
Palo Alto Medical Research Foundation, Palo Alto, California 94301, U.S.A.
John Donch
Affiliation:
Palo Alto Medical Research Foundation, Palo Alto, California 94301, U.S.A.
Young S. Chung
Affiliation:
Palo Alto Medical Research Foundation, Palo Alto, California 94301, U.S.A.
Joseph Greenberg
Affiliation:
Palo Alto Medical Research Foundation, Palo Alto, California 94301, U.S.A.
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The effect of nalidixic acid, a specific inhibitor of DNA synthesis, on Escherichia coli strain B (lon) and its u.v.-sensitive derivatives is examined. Strain B itself is sensitive to nalidixic acid, whereas its u.v.-resistant derivative B/r is resistant.

It is shown that in all exr A strains, in which u.v.-induced filamentation is suppressed, resistance to nalidixic acid is increased. Among exr A strains, Bs4 is exceptionally resistant to nalidixic acid. This is because nalidixic acid kills only growing cells and strain Bs4, a try auxotroph, may grow poorly under the conditions used to test nalidixic acid.

The uvr genes of the HCR strains Bs1, Bs8 and Bs12 do not suppress u.v.-induced filamentation nor do they affect the response to nalidixic acid. The uvr gene of strain Bs3 is unusual in increasing the tendency to filament and also sensitivity to nalidixic acid.

Strains Bs1, Bs3 and Bs8 are all doubly mutated from strain B, the second mutation (not uvr) being responsible for their increased resistance to nalidixic acid as well as partially or completely suppressing filamentation.

It is concluded that the cell division mechanism of (lon) strain B is sensitive to inhibition of DNA synthesis. Mutations which suppress the tendency of strain B to filament reduce its sensitivity to inhibition of DNA synthesis.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1969

References

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