The effects of 8-azaguanine on the biosynthesis of ribonucleic acid in Bacillus cereus

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Abstract
During the partial inhibition of growth of B. cereus produced by 8-azaguanine, the newly formed ribonucleic acids (RNA) contain 8-azaguanine as well as the normal base guanine. The relative base composition of the nucleic acids remains unchanged, with the analog substituting for some of the guanine. The ribonucleic acid guanylic acid content of the inhibited bacteria is similar to that of the control microorganisms, but the amount of adenylic, cytidylic and uridylic acid increases in proportion to the quantity of the analog incorporated. It is deduced that 8-aza-guanylic acid replaces guanylic acid in the excess portion of the bacterial nucleic acids only. A major portion of the incorporated 8-azaguanine is present at the ends of polynucleotide chains in the form of cyclic 8-azaguanosine 2[image],3[image]-phosphate. Additions of guanine or guanosine to a culture inhibited by 8-azaguanine apparently leads to the loss of 8-azaguanylic acid from the polynucleotides. 8-Azaguanosine 5[image]-phosphate has been isolated from the acid-soluble fraction of the cells, and its possible function in synthesis of nucleic acid is discussed.