Incorporation of adenine and uracil into the nucleic acids of Streptococcus bovis

Abstract

Adenine-8-14C and uracil-2-14C were rapidly taken up and incorporated into the nucleic acids of Streptococcus bovis and mixed cultures of rumen bacteria. The radioactivity from adenine-8-14C was found in both the adenine and guanine of RNA and DNA. The radioactivity from uracil-2-14C was found in the uracil and cytosine of RNA and the cytosine and thymine of DNA. With both precursors there was 10–12 times as much radioactivity in the RNA as there was in the DNA. Thymine-2-14C was not used by Streptococcus bovis or the rumen bacteria.