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Abstract
SUMMARY
Cells of Haemophilus influenzae grown with or without competence promoting factors, inosine and lactate, were compared in their ability to bind deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and to undergo a genetic transformation. It was found that cells grown with the above factors bound 70% of the 14C-labelled DNA and transformed to a relatively high level (1·4 to 2·5 %). Cells grown without the factors bound only 8 % of the 14C-labelled DNA and transformed to a low level (0·01 % or less).
It is suggested from these studies that during growth cells of Haemophilus influenzae use inosine and lactate either to form or modify that portion of the cell surface that can later become involved in binding DNA.
- Accepted:
- Published Online:
© Society for General Microbiology 1969