SUGGESTED ROLE OF RESPIRATION IN BACTERIAL DNA REPLICATION

Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation stimulate DNA synthesis in intact cello of Escherichia coli. Synthesis of double-stranded DNA has been shown rev coli to require a functioning respiratory system even in the presence of sufficient nucleotide triphosphate pools. We suggest that the role of respiration reflects a requirement for the motion of protons across the cell membrane, away from the locus of DNA chain unwinding. This flux would be expected to be promoted by addition of uncouplers and may be required to relieve electrostatic interaction between strands of DNA. Such a vectorial feature of DNA synthesis should be considered in light of the spatial proximity of DNA replication to the bacterial cell membrane. © 1969.