GTP pool expansion is necessary for the growth rate increase occurring in Bacillus subtilis after amino acids shift-up.

After addition of amino acids to a Bacillus subtilis glucose culture the intracellular guanosine triphosphate (GTP) concentration increased. The growth rate and the rate of RNA accumulation increased too. With mycophenolic acid, an inhibitor of inosinate dehydrogenase, it was possible to adjust the intracellular GTP concentration to values ranging between that of the glucose culture and that of the culture which had received amino acids. This led to intermediate growth rate values. Guanosine abolished the mycophenolic acid inhibition of GTP synthesis. It also counteracted the drug effects on growth rate and RNA accumulation. In cultures growing on Nutrient Sporulation Medium, in which the growth rate decreases as cell density increases, the GTP concentration did correlate with the growth rate.