The adaptation of Aerobacter aerogenes to the stress of sublethal doses of formaldehyde.

SUMMARY: This paper deals with some biochemical events that occur when a population of Aerobacter aerogenes is treated with a sublethal dose of formaldehyde. It was discovered that during the bacteriostatic period there was a change in the base ratio of the non-ribosomal RNA. Along with this change there was the appearance of induced enzymes capable of metabolizing the formaldehyde at an increased rate. As soon as the formaldehyde concentration had been decreased by metabolism, growth resumed and the base ratio of the RNA returned to a normal value.