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. 1970 Feb;101(2):449–455. doi: 10.1128/jb.101.2.449-455.1970

Increase in Lytic Activity in Competent Cells of Bacillus subtilis After Uptake of Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Charles R Stewart a,1, Julius Marmur a
PMCID: PMC284927  PMID: 4984074

Abstract

Extractable lytic activity in competent cells of Bacillus subtilis 168 was markedly increased after treatment with homologous or heterologous deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). This increase was prevented by deoxyribonuclease, and did not occur with B. subtilis W23 or with noncompetent B. subtilis 168 cells, neither of which take up DNA. Although the deoxyribonuclease-sensitive step in DNA uptake was completed within 10 min, the increase in lytic activity did not begin until more than 30 min after the addition of DNA. The increase was prevented by any of several antibiotics. These results are discussed in relation to the mechanisms for the uptake of transforming DNA and the lysis of transfected cells.

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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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