[Nucleic acids utilized as the main source of bacterial nutrition]

Secretion of DNases and RNases, respectively, was found in saprophyte bacteria isolated from nature and growing on media containing DNA and RNA. Serratia marcescens and Bacillus subtilis with a high nuclease activity can assimilate RNA and DNA as the main source of nutrition. Ser. marcescens with a nuclease which attacks both DNA and RNA can grow equally well on these acids. Bac. subtilis has a higher activity of RNase and grows better on RNA.