THE DEOXYRIBOSE NUCLEIC ACID SLIME LAYER OF SOME HALOPHILIC BACTERIA

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Abstract
Cells of Micrococcus halodenitrificans and Vibrio costicolus when grown under certain conditions possess a sticky extracellular deoxypentose nucleic acid (DNA) slime. Treatment of these cells with deoxyribonuclease (DNase) eliminates the stickiness and removes up to 50% of the DNA of the cells, without affecting their viability. A similar DNA slime is probably responsible for the stickiness of Pseudomonas salinaria and other halophiles, and the presence of such a slime seems peculiar to halophiles. The stickiness of M. halodenitrificans and the amount of DNA extractable from it with DNase decrease with increasing salt content of the growth medium, or if calcium is added to the medium. The results suggest that a deficiency of essential nutrients affects the permeability of the membrane allowing leakage of DNA or its precursors from the cell.