Abstract
The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from Escherichia coli has been isolated as an extract containing about 50 per cent by weight protein. The protein component differs both in composition and chemical behaviour from histone which occurs in combination with the DNA in most cells of higher organisms. Although this result suggests the absence of histone-like protein, it is not clear whether the bacterial protein found is naturally bound to the bacterial DNA in the cell or becomes attached to the DNA during the course of isolation.
Highlights
It is fairly well established that the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), in the cells of all higher organisms that have been closely examined, is complexed with protein [1]
We have sought to investigate the state of DNA isolated from bacteria: firstly, to see to what extent the DNA is associated with protein; secondly, to investigate the chemical nature of the protein; and thirdly, to examine the mode of linkage between the DNA and the protein
Comparison of the nucleoprotein with total E. coli protein indicates a striking similarityin composition. These results suggest that there is no appreciable quantity of histone complexed with the bacterial DNA unless it has been lost during the isolation procedure
Summary
It is fairly well established that the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), in the cells of all higher organisms that have been closely examined, is complexed with protein [1]. It has been known for some time that DNA preparations containing protein may be obtained from bacterial organisms [3,4,5]. The pellets in the bottom of the centrifuge tubes were found to contain all of the DNA from the first supernatant and this was dispersed in distilled water by stirring for 2 hours, after which an equal volume of saline medium (0.048 z~ versene pH 8 + 0.15 M NaC1) was added to make a total volume of 400 cc.
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