ON THE DECOMPOSITION OF PYRIMIDINES BY BACTERIA I

Abstract

By means of enrichment cultures it has been possible to isolate from soil several strains of Corynebacterium and Nocardia that can use pyrimidines as the only source of energy, C, and N. In all cases tested, the degradation of pyrimidines was brought about by adaptive enzymes. Thus, by use of the technic of simultaneous adaptation it was possible to study the degradation of these compounds by bacteria. The results indicate that the pathways (proposed by Cerecedo) for dogs do not apply to N. corallina. Instead, evidence indicates that the initial degradation of thymine might take place according to the following scheme: Thymine[forward arrow] uracil [forward arrow] barbituric acid.