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EFFECT OF O-METHYL-DL-THREONINE AND O-METHYL-DL-SERINE ON GROWTH AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

Department of Botany, University College, London, England

ABSTRACT

NEALE, S. (Department of Botany, University College, London, England), AND H. TRISTRAM. Effect of O-methyl-DL-threonine and O-methyl-DL-serine on growth and protein synthesis in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 86:1241–1250. 1963.—Addition of either O-methyl-DL-threonine or O-methyl-DL-serine to exponentially growing cultures of Escherichia coli resulted in "linear" increases in optical density. The total cell count, however, remained constant, the increase in optical density being accompanied by a marked increase in cell length. In the presence of O-methyl-DL-serine, a phase of "linear" growth was followed by exponential growth, which was maintained during a second passage through analogue-containing medium but not after a subsequent passage through normal medium, suggesting phenotypic adaptation to the analogue. The differential rate of incorporation of amino acids into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble material was unaffected by growth in the presence of either O-methyl-DL-threonine or O-methyl-DL-serine. Neither analogue was incorporated into E. coli protein. The effect of the analogues on the production of alkaline phosphatase and ß-galactosidase was examined. The precise point and mode of action of the analogues have not been determined, but available evidence suggests that the growth-inhibitory effects of both substances are due to interference with the biosynthesis of threonine and methionine.