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. 1972 Oct;112(1):30–39. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.1.30-39.1972

Regulation of Macromolecular Synthesis by Putrescine in a Conditional Escherichia coli Putrescine Auxotroph

Delano V Young 1, P R Srinivasan 1
PMCID: PMC251377  PMID: 4562399

Abstract

Addition of putrescine to a slowly growing, polyamine-starved Escherichia coli K-12 mutant conditionally incapable of synthesizing putrescine causes the immediate stimulation of protein synthesis. After a period ranging from 60 to 105 min, ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) syntheses are also stimulated and rapid cellular division begins. Chloramphenicol blocks this rapid cellular division, although addition of the specific DNA synthesis inhibitor, nalidixic acid, has no effect on cell division. By sucrose gradient analysis and diethylaminoethyl-cellulose chromatography, the proteins initially made in response to putrescine appear to be composed of many classes, including membrane-bound proteins. However, the synthesis of ribosomal subunits is not altered during this period. A possible role for putrescine in either the stimulation of messenger RNA transcription or in translation is suggested.

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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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