ACCUMULATION OF RIBONUCLEIC ACID IN BACTERIAL NUCLEAR PREPARATIONS DURING TREATMENT OF WHOLE CELLS WITH 8-AZAGUANINE, TETRACYCLINES, AND OTHER INHIBITORS.

Abstract

Ezekiel, David H. (Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pa.). Accumulation of ribonucleic acid in bacterial nuclear preparations during treatment of whole cells with 8-azaguanine, tetracyclines, and other inhibitors. J. Bacteriol. 87:755-760. 1964-Ribonucleic acid (RNA), synthesized in Bacillus megaterium KM during chloramphenicol treatment, accumulates in the chromatin-containing cell fraction obtained by lipase treatment of protoplasts. To determine whether this phenomenon is the cause or an effect of the inhibition of protein synthesis, or neither, other inhibitors of protein synthesis were studied. Chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, azaguanine, and, to a lesser extent, 7-azatryptophan permitted RNA synthesis while inhibiting protein synthesis. In each case, RNA accumulated in the chromatin body fraction. Azaguanine at 5 mug/ml causes more RNA accumulation than at 15 mug/ml, but allows some protein synthesis. Other inhibitors of protein synthesis inhibit RNA synthesis as well, and no accumulation is seen. The evidence favors the hypothesis that inhibition of protein synthesis causes the accumulation in the nuclear fraction. The possible nature and intracellular locus of the RNA accumulation are discussed briefly.