Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fluorouracil and the isolation of mutants lacking uridine phosphorylase in Escherichia coli: Location of the gene

  • Published:
Molecular and General Genetics MGG Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A selective technique is described for the isolation of mutants of Escherichia coli lacking uridine phosphorylase and the location of the gene specifying this enzyme on the bacterial chromosome is determined. Using strains with appropriate lesions it is shown that there are three routes via which 5-fluorouracil can be converted to compounds which inhibit cell growth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmad, S. I., Pritchard, R. H.: A map of four genes specifying enzymes involved in catabolism of nucleosides and deoxynucleosides in Escherichia coli. Molec. Gen. Genetics 104, 351 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Beacham, I. R., Barth, P. T., Pritchard, R. H.: Constitutivity of thymidine phosphorylase in deoxyriboaldolase negative strains: dependence on thymine requirement and concentration. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 166, 589 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolton, E. T., Reynard, A. M.: Utilisation of purine and pyrimidine compounds in nucleic acid synthesis by Escherichia coli. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 13, 381 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyce, R. P., Setlow, R. B.: A simple method of increasing the incorporation of thymidine into the deoxyribonucleic acid of Escherichia coli. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 61, 618 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brockman, R. W., Davis, J. M., Stutts, P.: Metabolism of uracil and 5-fluorouracil by drugsensitive and by drug-resistant bacteria. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 40, 22 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. S., Flaks, J. G., Barner, H. D., Loeb, M. R., Lichtenstein, J.: The mode of action of 5-fluorouracil and its derivatives. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 44, 1004 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, L. V.: Thymine metabolism in strains of Escherichia coli. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 30, 428 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fangman, W. L., Novick, A.: Mutant bacteria showing efficient utilization of thymidine. J. Bact. 91, 2390 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Krenitsky, T. A., Barclay, M., Jacquez, J. A.: Specificity of mouse uridine phosphorylase. J. biol. Chem. 239, 805 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Munch-Petersen, A.: On the catabolism of deoxyribonucleosides in cells and cell extracts of Escherichia coli. Europ. J. Biochem. 6, 432 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuhard, J., Ingraham, J.: Mutants of Salmonella typhimurium requiring cytidine for growth. J. Bact. 95, 2431 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Donovan, Gerard A., Neuhard, J.: Pyrimidine metabolism in microorganisms. Bact. Rev. 34, 278 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Paege, L. M., Schlenk, F.: Bacterial uracil riboside phosphorylase. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 40, 42 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  • Razzell, W. E., Khorana, H. G.: Purification and properties of a pyrimidine deoxyriboside phosphorylase from Escherichia coli. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 28, 562 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Siminovitch, L., Graham, A. F.: Synthesis of nucleic acid in Escherichia coli. Canad. J. Microbiol. 1, 721 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, A. L.: Current linkage map of Escherichia coli. Bact. Rev. 34, 155 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, England

    R. H. Pritchard & S. I. Ahmad

  2. University of Leicester, University Road, LEI 7RH, Leicester, England

    R. H. Pritchard

Authors
  1. R. H. Pritchard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. I. Ahmad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by P. Starlinger

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pritchard, R.H., Ahmad, S.I. Fluorouracil and the isolation of mutants lacking uridine phosphorylase in Escherichia coli: Location of the gene. Molec. Gen. Genet. 111, 84–88 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00286557

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00286557

Keywords

Search

Navigation