Biomaterial Database

Characterization of deoxyribonucleic acids from streptomycetes and nocardiae. 1967

E M Tewfik, and S G Bradley

The relationships among selected streptomycetes, nocardiae, and mycobacteria have been determined, based upon the base composition of their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and upon the ability of their denatured DNA to anneal with single-stranded reference DNA. The streptomycetes constituted a homogeneous group whose DNA contained between 69 and 73 mole% guanine + cytosine (% GC). Moreover, the streptomycetes examined showed 37 to 88% homology with the Streptomyces venezuelae and S. rimosus reference DNA. The nocardial and mycobacterial DNA both contained 62 to 69% GC. The nocardial strains studied fell into either a 62 to 64% GC group or a 68 to 69% GC group, indicating that they should not be assigned to a single species. The nocardiae having 68 to 69% GC showed 24 to 44% homology with S. venezuelae reference DNA. In competition experiments, wherein unlabeled heterologous DNA interfered with binding of labeled homologous DNA, the nocardial DNA with 68 to 69% GC showed a greater degree of homology with the streptomycetes than did the nocardial DNA with 62 to 64% GC. In addition, the DNA from spores of S. venezuelae was cursorily examined, and interactions between S. venezuelae denatured DNA and polyribonucleotides were sought. The buoyant density of the DNA from S. venezuelae spores was distinctly less than that from mycelia. Moreover, denatured S. venezuelae DNA formed a dense complex with polyriboguanylate.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009161	Mycobacterium	A genus of gram-positive, aerobic bacteria. Most species are free-living in soil and water, but the major habitat for some is the diseased tissue of warm-blooded hosts.	Mycobacteria
D009615	Nocardia	A genus of gram-positive, aerobic bacteria whose species are widely distributed and are abundant in soil. Some strains are pathogenic opportunists for humans and animals.	Micropolyspora
D009691	Nucleic Acid Denaturation	Disruption of the secondary structure of nucleic acids by heat, extreme pH or chemical treatment. Double strand DNA is "melted" by dissociation of the non-covalent hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Denatured DNA appears to be a single-stranded flexible structure. The effects of denaturation on RNA are similar though less pronounced and largely reversible.	DNA Denaturation,DNA Melting,RNA Denaturation,Acid Denaturation, Nucleic,Denaturation, DNA,Denaturation, Nucleic Acid,Denaturation, RNA,Nucleic Acid Denaturations
D003596	Cytosine	A pyrimidine base that is a fundamental unit of nucleic acids.
D003720	Densitometry	The measurement of the density of a material by measuring the amount of light or radiation passing through (or absorbed by) the material.	Densitometries
D004269	DNA, Bacterial	Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of bacteria.	Bacterial DNA
D006147	Guanine
D013170	Spores	The reproductive elements of lower organisms, such as BACTERIA; FUNGI; and cryptogamic plants.	Spore
D013302	Streptomyces	A genus of bacteria that form a nonfragmented aerial mycelium. Many species have been identified with some being pathogenic. This genus is responsible for producing a majority of the ANTI-BACTERIAL AGENTS of practical value.
D014461	Ultracentrifugation	Centrifugation with a centrifuge that develops centrifugal fields of more than 100,000 times gravity. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)