title: Reduction of RNA and DNA in Methylococcus capsulatus by endogenous nucleases.
abstract: A method for reducing RNA and DNA in the bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) has been developed. Endogenous RNase and DNase were activated by a 10 s heat shock at 90 degrees C. Cells were then incubated at 60 degrees C for 20 min to allow degradation of the nucleic acids. The optimum pH for the process was 7.0. The protein loss was less than 10% and occurred during the initial heat shock. No protein loss was found during incubation. The total dry-weight loss in connection with an 80% reduction of the nucleic acid content was 20%-25%, giving a final product with a raw protein content of approximately 75%. Reduction of both RNA and DNA was inhibited by CuSO4 and ZnSO4. DNA reduction was stimulated by other minerals. Optimal stimulation was found at 1 mM FeSO4. Reduction of RNA was not increased by any of the minerals tested.
authors.affiliation: DB Lab, Dansk Bioprotein A/S, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joergensen
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008772:Methylococcaceae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D012260:Ribonucleases