Effects of Purines, Pyrimidines and Related Compounds Upon Cell Form in Ustilago Sphaerogena

Abstract

Spoerl, Edward, and J. L. Pullman. (U. S. Army Med. Res. Lab., Fort Knox, Ky.) Effects of purines, pyrimidines and related compounds upon cell form in Ustilago sphaerogena. Amer. Jour. Bot. 46(9): 651–656. 1959.—Nucleotide, nucleoside and base constituents of ribosenucleic acid, singly and in combination, were used as nitrogen sources for U. sphaerogena and examined for their effects upon cell form. Combinations of nucleotides, and adenine, produced long cells, i.e., interfered with cell division. A variety of analogues, especially of purine types, was examined for their effects upon cell form. Although adenine produced long cells, a hydroxy group substituted at the 6 position of the purine ring produced short cells. Sulfhydryl, furfurylamino and methyl groups substituted at the 6 position produced long cells. Additional groups and combinations of these groups also were examined. Neither hydroxypurines nor methionine or norleucine, which normally promote short‐cell formation, effectively antagonized the adenine effect, although norleucine tended to counteract a dimercaptopurine effect.