Inactive form of edeine in the edeine-producing Bacillus brevis Vm 4 cells

• 1.1. Exogenous edeine inhibits the synthesis of DNA and protein, but not that of RNA, in extracts of edeine-producing Bacillus brevis Vm 4 cells. This is analogous to the effect of edeine on extracts obtained from edeine-sensitive cells.
• 2.2. Producer cells, in contrast to sensitive ones, are not permeable to exogenous edeine. DNA synthesis in producer cells rendered permeable by toluene treatment becomes sensitive to edeine.
• 3.3. No free edeine could be detected in post-log producer cells during maximal synthesis of edeine. Nascent edeine exists in the cell in a biologically inactive form, bound to a fast-sedimenting fraction. Edeine B, identical to the antibiotic present in the medium, is released from this fraction by mild treatment with alkali.