Calcium-requiring step in the uptake of deoxyribonucleic acid molecules through the surface of competent pneumococci. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The conversion of surface-adsorbed deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules to a state in which they are inaccessible to exogenous deoxyribonuclease requires specifically calcium ions; magnesium ions cannot replace calcium ions. Virtually maximal levels of nuclease-resistant DNA binding and genetic transformation can be obtained in media free from magnesium and containing only calcium ions. It is suggested that the calcium-requiring process is the transport of DNA molecules across the plasma membrane. Magnesium ions stimulate both the loss of surface-adsorbed DNA to the medium and the extracellular degradation of DNA.

publication date

  • June 1, 1976

Research

keywords

  • Calcium
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Transformation, Genetic

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC233133

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0017118232

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1128/jb.126.3.1113-1118.1976

PubMed ID

  • 7544

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 126

issue

  • 3