Abstract
Cells of Escherichia coli were labeled with precursors of ribonucleic acid (RNA), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and protein, lysed with detergent, and examined by starch-block electrophoresis and CsCl density gradient centrifugation. A large amount of the DNA was seen to remain at positions of low electrophoretic mobility and light density along with tryptophan and arginine-containing proteins and some RNA. Addition of labeled, phenol-extracted DNA to unlabeled cells prior to lysis and electrophoresis showed that only a small amount of the DNA became associated during or after lysis. Sonic treatment of a lysate removed most of the DNA to a position of electrophoretic mobility and density similar to that of free DNA, whereas pronase and ribonuclease released only a part of the DNA. We concluded that binding of DNA to cell membranes or other cell components occurs in the cell prior to lysis and involves protein and probably a specific type of RNA.