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P Ceglowski

Publications and source records attributed to P Ceglowski.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Genetic analysis of rec E activities in Bacillus subtilis.

A recE mutant (recE6) of Bacillus subtilis was constructed by insertion of a selectable marker into the recE coding region. The insertional inactivation of the recE gene renders cells very sensitive to DNA damaging agents and severely impairs intermolecular recombination, but does not markedly affect plasmid interstrand annealing and intramolecular recombination. The recE6 allele was then introduced into a set of DNA repair-deficient strains of B. subtilis. The removal of DNA damage by the recF, addA addB, recH, recL and recP gene products is strictly dependent on an active recE gene product (recE-dependent pathway). On the other hand, the increased sensitization to purine adducts in the uvrA42 recE6 and polA5 recE6 strains suggests that such lethal lesions may be removed either by the recE-dependent or by the recE-independent pathway.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide

Mechanism of action of lactostrepcin 5, a bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus cremoris 202.

The mechanism of bactericidal activity of lactostrepcin 5 (Las 5), a bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus cremoris 202, was investigated. Las 5 did not kill protoplasts of sensitive cells, and its activity was decreased about 10-fold after pretreatment of the cells with trypsin, suggesting the involvement of the cell wall in the activity of this bacteriocin. In susceptible cells, the bacteriocin slowed down and then stopped synthesis of DNA, RNA, and protein, although this did not appear to be the primary effect of Las 5 action. Las 5 also inhibited uridine transport in susceptible cells and induced leakage of K+ ions and ATP. Survival of cells treated with Las 5 in phosphate buffer was higher in the presence of K+, CA2+, or Mg2+ ions.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Nuclease content of group H Streptococcus strain Challis cell surface extracts inactivating transforming deoxyribonucleic acid.

Besides the competence factor (cpf), the activity of nuclease present in cell surface extracts (iF) is most likely necessary for the occurrence of competence in transformation of Challis strain and other group H streptococci. Very small amounts of iF activity were available. For this reason there were no data on nucleases occurring in iF preparations. In our previous studies, three deoxyribonucleases (endonucleases) were isolated and partly purified from stationary Challis strain cells. In the present work, due to the application of stationary-phase cell endonucleases, gel electrophoresis, and the immunological method, we found that two of these nucleases occur in Challis strain iF preparations. These two nucleases are present in larger amounts at the cell surface only in cells originating from the early-logarithmic-phase culture. Only in this phase does competence occur in the Challis strain. Antibodies against the three endonucleases of the Challis strain do not block the occurrence of competence. We suggest that an increase in the permeability of the cell membrane for intracellular nucleases independent of cpf activity is a stage in the maturation of competence.

Bacterial Proteins

Competitive inhibition of transformation in group H Streptococcus strain Challis by heterologous deoxyribonucleic acid.

Glucosylated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from phages T4 and T6 competes poorly with homologous DNA causing only a slight decrease of transformation in Group H Streptococcus strain Challis. Other types of heterologous DNAs (Micrococcus luteus, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, calf thymus and non-glucosylated phage T6 DNA), in contrast to glucosylated T4 and T6 DNAs, compete with transforming DNA to the normal, high extent. These results indicate that as in transformation of Bacillus subtilis, the presence of glucose attached to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in phage T6 DNA considerably decreases the interaction of such DNA with competent cells of the Challis strain. It also indicates that the guanine plus cytosine content of DNA is not decisive in determining its interaction with competent cells.

Animals