Effect of competence induction on macromolecular synthesis in a group H streptococcus

The effects of competence induction by competence factor (CF) on macromolecular synthesis in group H streptococcus strain Wicky were investigated. CF preparations (culture filtrates from competent group H streptococcus strain Challis) were either heated or partially purified to remove a bacteriocin. These preparations did not inhibit growth, although they induced high levels of competence in strain Wicky. The action of the CF preparations did not affect the overall rates of deoxyribonucleic acid and protein synthesis, but caused a reduction in the rates of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and peptidoglycan synthesis. When competence induction by CF was prevented, no alterations in RNA or peptidoglycan synthesis were observed, indicating that these changes are in fact related to the development of competence.