Stimulation of unbalanced ribonucleic acid synthesis in Escherichia coli by methanol

Addition of methanol to a stringent strain of Escherichia coli, starving of methionine, stimulates unbalanced ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis. The newly formed RNA and ribonucleoprotein species sediment between 4S and 30S. As a result of methanol treatment, cells become permeable to actinomycin D. Damage to cellular membrane appears to influence the control for RNA synthesis.