Abstract:
The effect of the Bacillus intermedius ribonuclease and its mutant forms derived by site-specific mutagenesis on the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was studied. Both catalytically active and catalytically inactive (mutant) ribonucleases stimulated bacterial growth, the extent of stimulation correlating with the catalytic activity of the enzymes. It was suggested that the biological activity of exogenous ribonucleases is mainly due to their catalytic activity.