UTILIZATION OF THYMINE, THYMIDINE AND TMP BY NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS

Abstract

Attempts to isolate thymine, thymidine or TMP deficient mutants from Neisseria meningitidis were altogether negative. This led to the examination of the growth response and the uptake of these compounds when exogenously added. The growth rate was slightly increased upon their addition to cultures of meningococci adapted to growth on basal media. At the same time, radioactivity was taken up from labelled thymine to an extent of 5.6 per cent of the material added, from thymidine to an extent of 0.6 per cent, and from TMP to an extent of 0.05 per cent. The addition of purine deoxyribonucleosides or the base analogue 5‐fluorodeoxyuridine did not increase the uptake of labelled material from thymidine. Growth inhibition which was observed upon the addition of deoxyadenosine, 5‐fluorodeoxyuridine or 5‐fluorouracil has been discussed.