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J Bacteriol. 1962 November; 84(5): 1061-1070
Copyright © 1962, The Williams & Wilkins Company. All Rights Reserved.

RIBONUCLEIC ACID IN A "MEMBRANE" FRACTION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI AND ITS RELATION TO CELL-WALL SYNTHESIS

Section of Genetics, Department of Biology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston, Texas

ABSTRACT

SUIT, JOAN C. (The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston). Ribonucleic acid in a "membrane" fraction of Escherichia coli and its relation to cell-wall synthesis. J. Bacteriol. 84:1061–1070. 1962.—A small amount of ribonucleic acid (RNA) was found in a "membrane" fraction prepared from osmotically sensitized Escherichia coli. It exhibited an elevated metabolic activity in that it attained the highest specific activity of any RNA in subcellular fractions of logarithmic-phase cells or spheroplasts prepared from logarithmic-phase cells which had been allowed to incorporate P³² briefly. The metabolic activity of this RNA, in terms of P³² incorporation, was found to be independent of cell-wall synthesis in the diaminopimelic acid (DAP)-less mutant, E. coli W 173-25, but was inhibited by penicillin in both this strain and in E. coli B. The latter effect is considered to be a result of other complex inhibitions of cellular metabolism by the antibiotic. The development of sensitivity to osmotic shock, capability of recovery, and synthesis of macromolecules in penicillin-treated and DAP-starved cultures, under these conditions, is described.