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FATE OF EXOGENOUS DNA IN NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS
Author(s) -
Gundersen Wenche Blix,
Jyssum Kaare
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
acta pathologica microbiologica scandinavica section b microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0365-5563
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1973.tb02205.x
Subject(s) - neisseria meningitidis , dna , centrifugation , transformation (genetics) , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , bacteria , genetics , gene , biochemistry
A method is presented for the isolation of 15 3 H DNA from Neisseria meningitidis. The 15 N DNA separates from ordinary 14 N DNA of N. meningitidis when analysed in analytical density centrifugation corresponding to a difference in buoyant density of approximately 0.013 g/cm 3 . The specific density of regular N. meningitidis DNA is found to be 1.7105 g/cm 3 . Analysis by preparative density centrifugation of cell extracts of N. meningitidis transformed with 15 N 3 H DNA shows that the radioactivity taken up during transformation assumes a specific density very close to that of the recipient DNA. The absence of radioactivity corresponding to that of the donor DNA in these cell extracts supports the notion that N. meningitidis lacks a DNase insensitive site outside the membrane, and supports the hypothesis of a concomitant uptake and integration of homologous, exogenous DNA in N. meningitidis transformation.