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Inhibition of Bacterial DNA Replication by 6-(p-Hydroxyphenylazo)-uracil

Nature New Biology volume 237, pages 72–74 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

THE semi-conservative replication of DNA of Gram-positive bacteria is specifically inhibited by 6-(p-hydroxyphenyIazo)-uracil (HPUra; obtained from ICI) in an apparently novel mechanism1–4. We have attempted to characterize the HPUra-sensitive site in replication using in vitro preparations of drug-sensitive bacteria. In particulate and soluble preparations of sensitive bacteria, however, HPUra at high concentration does not significantly inhibit polymerization of deoxyribonucleotides2,4. Since these systems may not accurately represent the process of DNA replication as it occurs in vivo, we have examined the effect of HPUra on a more suitable, toluene-treated preparation of Bacillus subtilis described by Matsushita et al.5. In this preparation, DNA replication is ATP-dependent, utilizes deoxyribonucleotides to give biologically active DNA, semi-conservatively and sequentially in the proper gene order. HPUra can inhibit DNA replication by this system. We describe here the characteristics of HPUra inhibition and the conditions necessary for it to occur.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology and Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201

    NEAL C. BROWN & CHARLES L. WISSEMAN III

  2. Department of Biochemical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540

    TATSUO MATSUSHITA

Authors
  1. NEAL C. BROWN
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  2. CHARLES L. WISSEMAN III
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  3. TATSUO MATSUSHITA
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BROWN, N., WISSEMAN, C. & MATSUSHITA, T. Inhibition of Bacterial DNA Replication by 6-(p-Hydroxyphenylazo)-uracil. Nature New Biology 237, 72–74 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio237072a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio237072a0

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