Agglutination of bacterial spheroplasts: agglutination-dependent degradation of Escherichia coli ribosomal ribonucleic acid.
When Escherichia coli spheroplasts made by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and lysozyme were agglutinated by concanavalin A (con A), the degradation of ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) was found to occur proportionally to the degree of the agglutination, which was determined by microscopic examination or by a newly devised assay based on the slower settling of aggregates. Methyl-alpha-d-glucoside, low temperature or alkaline pH, all of which reverse the agglutination, also reduced the extent of rRNA degradation. This degradation was not due to the direct action of con A since a similar relationship was found in the case of spontaneous agglutination with concentrated spheroplasts in the absence of con A. The possible importance of a change in the cell membrane associated with the agglutination process is discussed in connection with the initiation of rRNA degradation.
D000371:Agglutination; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004492:Edetic Acid; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006027:Glycosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007740:L Forms / Q000276:immunology*; D009113:Muramidase; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000378:metabolism*; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013104:Spheroplasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature
D006027:Glycosides; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004492:Edetic Acid; D009113:Muramidase