Tryptophan production by mutant strains ofEscherichia coli K 12

Riassunto In questa ricerca è stata messa a punto una tecnica per ottenere ceppi diE. coli produttori di quantità relativamente alte di triptofano. In un primo passo, sono stati selezionati mutanti diE. coli resistenti al 5-metiltriptofano, capaci di produrre triptofano in quantità misurabili. In un secondo passo mutativo si è aumentata la produzione di triptofano per una successiva selezione di mutanti resistenti al 5-fluoro-triptofano. La quantità di triptofano prodotta dai ceppi doppi mutanti è di circa dieci volte maggiore di quella dei singoli mutanti.     

Elaboration of vitamin B12 byEscherichia coli

Résumé Les auteurs ont constaté l'absence de la vitamine B₁₂ dans le corps 1° deE. coli 113-3, 2° de son parent prototrophique et 3° dans la souche sauvage. Le titre de B₁₂ dans le milieu de culture s'est trouvé fortement augmenté par la méthionine, dans le cas de la souche sauvage uniquement. En ajoutant de la cyanocobalamine on a obtenu dans les trois cas une augmentation de désoxyribosides.

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This work was supported by Grants A-1800 and A-1231 from the U. S. Public Health Service and Grants-in-Aid from the Loomis Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the Nat. Ass. for Mentel Health.     

High magnesium content ofEscherichia coli B

Summary We have found that the intracellular concentration of magnesium in exponentially growingEscherichia coli B is much higher than has been previously assumed; it is about 100 mM. Results of equilibrium dialysis suggest that nearly all of this Mg is bound, probably most of it to nucleic acids. These findings could have important consequences for the study of protein-DNA interactions and the in vitro simulation of protein biosynthesis.This research was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.We are most indebtet to prof. H.G. Seiler (Institute of Analytical Inorganic Chemistry, University of Base) for his extermely valuable help with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In addition. H. Jütte and, particularly. F. Borle, have helped in the experiments which are only mentioned here and which will be published in extenso together with these authors in forthcoming papers.     

Mg2+-ATPase defective mutant ofEscherichia coli and thiamine transport

Summary Mg²⁺-ATPase deficient mutant ofEscherichia coli showed an evident dependency of thiamine uptake on the oxidative metabolism of glucose, whereas the parent strain did not. In both cells, this uptake was completely inhibited by H⁺ conductors.Acknowledgment. We are indebted to Miss M. Abe for her excellent technical assistance.     

The effect of vitamin B12 on the coenzyme a content of normal strains ofescherichia coli

Zusammenfassung Auf vitaminfreien Nährböden wurdenEscherichia-Coli-Stämme kultiviert, die bei Zusatz von Vitamin B₁₂ einen deutlichen Rückgang der Abgabe von Pantothensäure in das Nährmedium zeigten.Die Bestimmung des Coenzym-A-Gehaltes der Bakterien ist mittels der Methode vonKaplan undLipmann durchgeführt worden. Es ergab sich, dass keine grösseren Schwankungen des Coenzym-A-Gehaltes der Bakterien vorkamen, obgleich der Gehalt an freier Pantothensäure in der Nährflüssigkeit deutlich abnahm.

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This work has been aided by grants from Emil Aaltonen Foundation and Sigrid Juselius Stiftelse.     

Host cell reactivation of ozone-treated T3 bacteriophage by different strains ofEscherichia coli

Summary Host cell reactivation capacity for ozone T3 phage was determined for differentE. coli strains deficient in one or more of the DNA repair mechanisms. The results indicate that DNA polymerase I appears to play a key role in the repair of damage produced on the DNA by ozone while thelexA gene product seems to play a minor one.This research was sponsored by the National Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada. One of us (PLH) acknowledges a scholarship from the NSERCof Canada.     

Studies on the modification ofEscherichia coli ribosomal protein L7/L12 by succinic anhydride

Summary Lysine modification by increasing quantities of succinic anhydride in theEscherichia coli ribosomal protein L7/L12 produces loss of its ability in reconstitution of elongation-factor-G-dependent GTP hydrolysis and polyphenylalanine synthesis activities, showing lower antigenicity and loss of antigenic determinants.This study was supported in part by Fondo de investigaciones sanitarias del INSALUD.     

Mutagenecity in the mal regions ofEscherichia coli

Résumé L'efficacité de la nitrosoguanidine (MNG) dans différents milieux de culture et tampons a été étudiée. Les résultats obtenus montrent qu'avec le temps, la fraction de cellules survivant au traitement diminue progressivement alors que la fréquence de mutation augmente dans tous les milieux. L'activité de cet agent atteint un maximum dans le milieu DM-glucose tandis que dans le tampon TM elle est à son plus bas niveau.     

Inhibition of thiamine transport in baker's yeast by methylene blue

Summary Methylene blue was found to inhibit thiamine transport competitively (K_i=0.63 M) in baker's yeast. The dye was also effective in abolishing the growth inhibition ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae by pyrithiamine which is known to be taken up by a common transport system for thiamine in yeast cells. A possible mechanism for the inhibition by methylene blue of the thiamine transport system in baker's yeast is discussed.     

Arylsulfatase B synthesis and clearance in inbred mouse strains

Arylsulfatase B activity levels were approximately 2-3-fold higher in adult C57BL/6J liver and kidney compared to corresponding tissues from A/J inbred mice. In vivo incorporation of tritiated leucine into C57BL/6J hepatic arylsulfatase B reached a maximum approximately 15 h after injection. The label was cleared from C57BL/6J arylsulfatase B with an apparent half-life of 36 h. The relative rates of synthesis of C57BL/6J and A/J arylsulfatase B were similar; however, the A/J enzyme was cleared more rapidly from liver tissue. C57BL/6J kidney arylsulfatase B appeared to be synthesized at a 2-3-fold higher rate than the corresponding A/J enzyme. These trends suggest genetic regulation of arylsulfatase B is effected through different means in liver and kidney from adult mice of these two inbred strains.     

Initial myocardial succino-oxidase activity changes induced by intravenous infusion ofEscherichia coli endotoxin in rabbit

Zusammenfassung Escherichia coli-Endotoxin (1 mg per kg) wurde in die Ohrvene von Kaninchen injiziert: Die Succinat-dehydrogenase- und Cytochromoxydase-Aktivität in den Mitochondrien des Herzmuskels wurde nach 15 min verändert. Es ist wahrscheinlich, dass das Endotoxin sowohl auf das Herz, als auch auf die peripheren Gefässe direkt wirkt.

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This study was supported by the Research Grant HE-09016 from the National Heart Institute, US Public Health Service; and the General Research Support Funds from the Philadelphia General Hospital.     

A non-dialyzable inhibitor of proteolytic activity in soluble extracts ofEscherichia coli

Résumé Nous avons observé l'inhibition de l'activité tryptique et chymotryptique par extraits d'Escherichia coli. L'inhibition n'est pas détruit par chauffage et par dialyse.