The assimilation of amino acids by bacteria. 25. The preparation and activities of a factor involved in the incorporation of amino acids in disrupted staphylococcal cells

Abstract

Removal of nucleic acid from disrupted staphylococcal cells results in a decrease of up to 98% of the incorporation of glycine by the preparation. Incorporation can be restored by the addition of staphylococcal ribonucleic acid, or a ribonuclease digest thereof, to the incubation mixture. The restoration is brought about by the presence of trace components ("incorporation factors") in the digest. A method for separation and concentration of an incorporation factor is described. This preparation can replace nucleic acid for the incorporation of glycine, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, leucine, glutamic acid, arginine and lysine but gives only partial replacement for the incorporation of valine, isoleucine, tyrosine and proline. The preparation does not replace, or enhance the activity of, nucleic acid for promotion of the development of catalase activity in nucleic acid-depleted disrupted cells. Nor does the factor preparation replace the mixture of purines and pyrimidines necessary for the formation of [beta]-galactosidase in such preparations.