GROWTH INHIBITION AND ITS REVERSION BY NUCLEIC ACID DERIVATIVES IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

Growth of E. coli strain D was inhibited by intermediates in the nucleic acid metabolism, of which purine derivatives such as hypoxanthine, inosine and adenosine were most active when singly added to the synthetic medium. Pyrimidine derivatives were also effective but very slightly in inhibiting cellular growth. 5-Amino-4-imidazole carboxamide was entirely inefficient. The inhibition induced by adenosine could be overcome by orotic acid, cytidine and NAD. Adenosine and inosine were converted by growing or resting cells of E. coli D to hypoxanthine which accumulated quantitatively in the medium.