[Effect of exogenous factors on extracellular alkaline ribonuclease synthesis in Bacillus mesentericus]

Bacillus mesentericus was found to assimilate nucleic acids as a source of nitrogen and phosphorus. Nucleic acids added to the medium as a source of nitrogen or phosphorus stimulated synthesis of ribonuclease. When washed bacterial cells were incubated for a short period of time in a fresh nutrient medium containing RNA, synthesis of RNAase was also induced. Synthesis of the enzyme was inhibited by high concentrations of chloramphenicol and actinomycin D, and stimulated by low concentrations of actinomycin D. Therefore, alkaline RNAase is an inducible enzyme which participates in the nutrition processes of bacteria.