title: Influence of thymine starvation on the integrity of deoxyribonucleic acid in Escherichia coli.
abstract: The influence of thymine starvation on the single-strand molecular weight of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from Escherichia coli was determined by sedimentation through gradients of alkaline sucrose. Growth of cells for as long as 150 min in thymineless medium did not significantly reduce the molecular weight below the control value of 2.4 +/- 0.3 x 10(8) daltons. Incubation of cells in thymineless medium after exposure to 500 ergs/mm(2) of ultraviolet light or 20 krad of (137)Cs gamma rays did not appear to block the rejoining of single-strand breaks associated with irradiation. Thus, DNA repair enzymes, presumably including DNA ligase, are not significantly inhibited by thymine starvation.
mesh_terms: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D002587:Cesium Isotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D004261:DNA Replication; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000528:radiation effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005827:Genetics, Microbial; D008025:Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D013395:Sucrose; D013941:Thymine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014316:Tritium; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002587:Cesium Isotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D014316:Tritium; D013395:Sucrose; D008025:Ligases; D013941:Thymine