EFFECT OF 8-AZAGUANINE ON GROWTH AND VIABILITY OF BACILLUS MEGATERIUM

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Abstract
The addition of 8-azaguanine to exponentially growing cells of Bacillus megaterium results in an inhibition of growth after a lag of approximately 30 min. However, 8-azaguanine-2-C14 is incorporated into the nucleic acids in a linear fashion without a detectable lag. The inhibitory action is reversed by purines and their derivatives, but not by uridine, thymidine, or cytidine. 8-Azaguanine is bactericidal, especially under conditions where growth (ribonucleic acid synthesis) is possible. Growth in the presence of a complete amino acid mixture, either before or during exposure to 8-azaguanine, increases the rate of killing. Chloramphenicol has little or no effect on the bactericidal action of the analogue.