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Mechanisms of Enhancement of SP82 Transfection ¹

Department of Biology and Graduate Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02154

ABSTRACT

SP82 transfection in Bacillus subtilis could be markedly increased by exposing the competent cells to ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated homologous or heterologous cellular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). This enhancement was similar in time and level of peak effect to enhancements effected by preinfection with helper phages or by UV irradiation of competent cells. The effectiveness of various DNA preparations in increasing transfection paralleled the adenine plus thymidine content of the preparations and was maximal at UV doses approaching those which were maximal for pyrimidine dimerization. The most probable interpretation is that irradiated DNA binds cellular nucleases which would otherwise inactivate the incoming transfecting DNA.

¹ Contribution no. 583 from the Graduate Department of Biochemistry.