A criterion for using chloramphenicol to define different processes in the initiation of DNA synthesis in bacteria

Abstract

A criterion is proposed which must be met in order to demonstrate that two different proteins are required for the initiation of DNA synthesis, with each protein being synthesized at a different time prior to initiation, and with the synthesis of each protein having a different sensitivity to inhibition by chloramphenicol. Specifically, as the CM concentration is continuously varied, there must be a discontinuous variation in the number of origins able to be initiated at each concentration. In the light of this criterion, I suggest that there is no firm evidence for the proposal that there exist two different proteins which are required for initiation of DNA replication in Escherichia coli.