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. 1974 Apr;71(4):1493–1498. doi: 10.1073/pnas.71.4.1493

Early Stages in DNA Binding and Uptake During Genetic Transformation of Pneumococci

Hiroyuki Seto 1, Alexander Tomasz 1
PMCID: PMC388256  PMID: 4151520

Abstract

Ethylenediaminetetraacetate and other divalent-cation-complexing agents greatly stimulate the cellular binding of DNA molecules to competent pneumococci, while the appearance of genetic transformants and nuclease-resistant DNA binding are completely inhibited. Based on this finding, we developed an experimental system in which three early and consecutive stages of genetic transformation can be experimentally separated: (i) attachment of DNA molecules to cell surface sites that are only demonstrable in the competent state; (ii) a divalent-cation-dependent nucleolytic splitting and release of the adsorbed molecules to the medium; and (iii) emergence of potential transformants accompanied by an energy-requiring and divalent-cation-dependent process in which the cell-associated DNA molecules become inaccessible to shearing forces, nucleases, anti-DNA serum, and polycations.

Keywords: divalent cation complexing agents, cell surface sites, nucleolytic splitting

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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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