Alcohol-soluble protein of microorganisms.

Pine, Martin J. (Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, N.Y.). Alcohol-soluble protein of microorganisms. J. Bacteriol. 85:301-305. 1963.-In two microbial systems, new protein synthesis has been reported to take place at the expense of a disappearing alcohol-soluble protein fraction. Studies were made to characterize the fraction and assess its storage function in Escherichia coli. Synthesis of the fraction does not cease promptly on sulfur depletion but overshoots initially and maintains a preferential rate of turnover. The fraction is probably of heterogeneous composition. It does not disappear during starvation but interacts with acid-insoluble metaphosphate accumulating in high levels as a peculiar consequence of sulfur deficiency. Solubility interactions with proteins of cell extracts are demonstrable with a number of polyanions, including teichoic acid. It is concluded that previous studies of transformations of microbial alcohol-soluble proteins are artifactitious.