Induced synthesis of enzymes in bacteria analyzed at the cellular level
- Creators
- Benzer, S.
Abstract
Bacteriophage is utilized as a discriminating device for determining the distribution of an inducible enzyme (β-D-galactosidase) in the cells of a culture of bacteria (E. coli B). It is shown that the cellular distribution of enzyme is given by the shape of the curve of enzyme released vs number of cells lysed. This distribution is investigated in cultures induced to various levels of specific enzyme activity. Under suitable conditions of induction, it is found that the induced synthesis of β-galactosidase proceeds at a uniform rate in all the cells. Under other conditions, however, a high degree of heterogeneity may occur. When enzyme-containing cells multiply in the absence of inducer, the initially-present enzyme is uniformly partitioned among the daughter cells.
Additional Information
© 1953 Elsevier. Received 26 January 1953. During this work the author was on leave of absence from Purdue University, as a Fellow of the Fullbright Commission and the American Cancer Society. The author is deeply indebted to Dr A. LWOFF, Dr J. MONOD, and their collaborators at the Institut Pasteur for the privilege of séjour in the vital atmosphere of their laboratory, and for their assistance and teachings of varied character, too numerous to mention.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 93412
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20190301-164325177
- Fulbright Commission
- American Cancer Society
- Created
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2019-03-04Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-16Created from EPrint's last_modified field