SUMMARY: Strains of Pasteurella pestis under certain conditions form a bacteriocin- like material, which has been named pesticin. Pesticin formation was induced by ultraviolet irradiation. A chemically defined medium composed of inorganic salts and amino acids supported the synthesis of pesticin by irradiated organisms. The minimal amino acid requirement for pesticin synthesis has been established. For the synthesis of pesticin at 37° the irradiated organisms required certain amino acids which they did not require at 27°. Bacteria in the stationary phase and actively dividing bacteria were equally able to produce pesticin upon irradiation. Concentrations of chloramphenicol lower than those required for bacteriostasis inhibited pesticin synthesis. Non-pesticin producing mutants of P. pestis were obtained by exposure of the bacteria to higher doses of u.v. irradiation than those required for the induction of pesticin formation. These mutants were sensitive to pesticin.
EnglesbergE.,
LevyJ. B.1954; Studies on immunisation against plague. 6. Growth of Pasteurella pestis and the production of the envelope and other soluble antigens in a casein hydrolysate mineral glucose medium. J. Bact 67:438
GaleE. F.,
FolkesJ. P.1953; The assimilation of amino acids by bacteria. 15. Actions of antibiotics on nucleic acid and protein synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus
. Biochem. J 53:493
HiguchiK., CarunC. E.1958; Studies on the nutrition and physiology of Pasteurella pestis . 2. A defined medium for the growth of Pasteurella pestis . J. Bact 75:409
WissemanC. L.,
SmadelJ. E.,
HahnF. E.,
HappsH. E.1954; The mode of action of chloramphenicol. 1. Action of chloramphenicol on the assimilation of ammonia and on the synthesis of protein and nucleic acid in Escherichia coli
. J . Bact 67:662