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. 1975 May;122(2):676–685. doi: 10.1128/jb.122.2.676-685.1975

Nucleolytic degradation of homologous and heterologous deoxyribonucleic acid molecules at the surface of competent pneumococci.

H Seto, R Lopez, O Garrigan, A Tomasz
PMCID: PMC246106  PMID: 236283

Abstract

Competent pneumococci can catalyze the rapid and quantitative degradation of extracellular deocyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules through the activity of surface-located nucleases (endo- and, possibly, exonucleases as well). Both homologous and heterologous DNAs are degraded by a mechanism that seems to involve a cyclic process: (i) attachment of DNA to the cell surface followed by (ii) nucleolytic attack, and (iii) release to the medium. Processes (ii) and (iii) are both inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetate. Whereas surface nuclease activity is specific for competent cells, the bulk of this activity is not coupled to irreversible DNA uptake (deoxyribonuclease-resistant binding). Pneumococcal DNA treated with ultraviolet irradiation or nitrous acid (cross-linking?) is selectively impaired in the ability to irreversibly bind to competent cells, whereas reversible binding is normal.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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