Inhibition of Morphogenesis in a Prokaryote by Cyclic Adenosine 3: 5-Monophosphate

Abstract

The morphological sphere-rod-sphere changes in Arthrobacter crystallopoietes were altered by introducing cyclic[c]AMP into the bacteria. The presence of this cAMP delayed the formation of the bacillus form and the change back into the coccus form. A specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, theophylline, also delayed the bacillus formation and the final coccus formation. cGMP had no demonstrable effect.