Effect of the RNase from Bacillus intermedius on growth and physiological characteristics of Escherichia coli

The effect of the RNase from Bacillus intermedius on the growth of Escheric hia coli was investigated. RNase added to growth medium enhanced the synthe sis of DNA, RNA, and protein and stimulated cell division; the degree of st imulation depended on the enzyme concentration. A necessary condition for s timulation was the adsorption of the enzyme on the cell surface and its int eraction with the cytoplasmic membrane, as demonstrated immunocytochemicall y. The adsorption of the enzyme was accompanied by a 43% decrease in the su rface charge density. Other effects of RNase involved a 25% increase in the growth rate, a 38% biomass gain, and generation time shortening by 10 min. The stimulation of bacterial growth correlated with the stimulation of the cellular respiration rate.