Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Ratios between Contents of DNA, RNA and Protein in Different Micro-organisms as a Function of Maximal Growth Rate

Abstract

THE growth medium determines the macromolecular composition as well as the growth rate (number of doublings per hour) of micro-organisms in the steady state of growth. For a given micro-organism the ratios of RNA : protein and RNA : DNA are linear functions of the growth rate, whereas the ratio of DNA : protein is virtually independent of the rate of growth1–4. All these studies involved one micro-organism studied at different growth rates.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kjeldgaard, N. O., and Kurland, C. G., J. Mol. Biol., 6, 341 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Leick, V., CR Trav. Lab. Carlsberg, 36, No. 7 (1967).

  3. Neidhardt, F. C., and Magasanik, B., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 42, 99 (1960).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Rosset, R., Julien, J., and Monier, R., J. Mol. Biol., 18, 308 (1966).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Mason, M. M., J. Bact., 29, 103 (1935).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Burton, K., Biochem. J., 62, 315 (1956).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Mejbaum, W., Z. Physiol. Chem., 258, 117 (1939).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N. J., Farr, A. L., and Randall, R. J., J. Biol. Chem., 193, 265 (1951).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Fan, K., Higa, A., and Levinthal, C., J. Mol. Biol., 8, 210 (1964).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gros, F., Naono, S., Woese, C., Wilson, G., and Attardi, G., Informational Macromolecules (edit. by Vogel, H. J., Bryson, V., and Lampen, O. J.), 387 (Academic Press, New York, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Naono, S., Rouviere, J., and Gros, F., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 129, 271 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Revel, M., and Gros, F., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 27, 12 (1967).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Shin, D. H., and Moldave, K., J. Mol. Biol., 21, 231 (1966).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Stent, G. S., Science, 144, 816 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

LEICK, V. Ratios between Contents of DNA, RNA and Protein in Different Micro-organisms as a Function of Maximal Growth Rate. Nature 217, 1153–1155 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/2171153a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2171153a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing