Selective inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by 2-deoxyadenosine in the blue-green bacterium Agmenellum quadruplicatum.

Concentrations of deoxyadenosine which have little effect on net ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis or on increase in cell mass selectively inhibit deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in Agmenellum quadruplicatum. Exogenously supplied deoxyadenosine, at concentrations above 10 mug/ml, stimulates DNA degradation. These results are correlated with a rapid loss in viability. Over a narrow concentration range (6-15 mug/ml), deoxyadenosine impairs the division process and induces the formation of elongated cells. Low exogenous concentrations of deoxyadenosine are readily incorporated into both DNA and RNA, with the major portion as DNA.