title: LiCl treatment releases a nickase implicated in genetic transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
abstract: When cells competent for genetic transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae which could bind and enable entry of extracellular DNA molecules were treated with LiCl, they released a nickase that introduced nicks into a double-stranded DNA in the presence of EDTA. The nickase was specific for competent cells and coupled with DNA-binding activity. Furthermore, when noncompetent cells were treated with LiCl, they released the putative receptors for the competence activator.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Science, Science University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seto
mesh_terms: D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018021:Lithium Chloride; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D014170:Transformation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008094:Lithium; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D018021:Lithium Chloride