Nach Kultivierung von Enterococcus Stei mit 14C-markiertem 5-Chlor-, 5-Brom- oder 5-Jod-Uracil wurde aus den Zellen die DNS isoliert und hoch gereinigt. Durch UV-Bestrahlung dieser DNS in wäßriger Lösung werden die eingebauten 5-Halogen-Uracile photochemisch verändert. Beim Abbau dieser bestrahlten DNS findet man neben geringen Mengen nicht-identifizierter Photoprodukte als überwiegendes Strahlenprodukt nach Hydrolyse mit Perchlorsäure Uracil und nach fermentativem Abbau Uracildesoxyribosid. Die Dehalogenierung von BU und JU in der DNS verläuft in Abhängigkeit von der Bestrahlungsstärke etwa gleich schnell, während CU sehr viel langsamer dehalogeniert wird.
Die photochemische Dehalogenierung des BU erfolgt in der nativen DNS am leichtesten, weniger gut in der Hitze-denaturierten DNS und nur in geringem Maße in der Apurinsäure.
A study on the effect of UV-irradiated polyuridylic acid on the incorporation of phenylalanine into the polypeptide precipitable through trichloroacetic acid, in a cell-free system from E. coli was made. Attempts were made to reactivate the UV-inactivated polyuridylic acid through hydrogen peroxide, uranyl acetate and visible light. We could show that polyuridylic acid irradiated at a dose of 1.2 ×105 ergs/mm2 could be completely reactivated, while the one irradiated at a higher dose of 2.4 ×105 ergs/mm2 could not be completely reactivated under the conditions of our experiment. We have studied the effects of hydrogen peroxide and uranyl acetate on UV-irradiated polyuridylic acid chemically as well. Our results altogether show that the photoreactivating effect of uranyl acetate and hydrogen peroxide is due to their ability to split the uracil dimers formed during UV-irradiation.
At pH 5.3 and 4.5 the half life of valyl-, threonyl-, leucyl- and seryl-tRNA from E. coli K 12 is significantly higher than at pH 6.8. While no changes were observed in the MAK elution patterns of valyl- and threonyl-tRNA, leucyl-tRNA was eluted in two peaks at pH 6.8 and 5.3 and in one broad peak at pH 4.5. Seryl-TRNA - two peaks at pH 6.8 - was separated in three peaks at pH 5.3 and 4.5. Rechromatography of these peaks at the other pH suggests the existence of at least four species of seryl-tRNA in E. coli K 12.