Early stages in DNA binding and uptake during genetic transformation of pneumococci. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Ethylenediaminetetraacetate and other divalent-cation-complexing agents greatly stimulate the cellular binding of DNA molecules to competent pneumococci, while the appearance of genetic transformants and nuclease-resistant DNA binding are completely inhibited. Based on this finding, we developed an experimental system in which three early and consecutive stages of genetic transformation can be experimentally separated: (i) attachment of DNA molecules to cell surface sites that are only demonstrable in the competent state; (ii) a divalent-cation-dependent nucleolytic splitting and release of the adsorbed molecules to the medium; and (iii) emergence of potential transformants accompanied by an energy-requiring and divalent-cation-dependent process in which the cell-associated DNA molecules become inaccessible to shearing forces, nucleases, anti-DNA serum, and polycations.

publication date

  • April 1, 1974

Research

keywords

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Transformation, Genetic

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC388256

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0016192711

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1073/pnas.71.4.1493

PubMed ID

  • 4151520

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 71

issue

  • 4