VARIATION DURING THE CELL-DIVISION CYCLE IN THE PENICILLIN INDUCTION OF PROTOPLAST-LIKE FORMS OF ALCALIGENES FECALIS

Abstract

Experiments have been carried out on the penicillin-controlled induction of protoplast-like forms, crescents, in synchronized cultures of a strain of Alcaligenes fecalis. The results have shown that during the cell-division cycle the cell passes through a stage shortly before division during which it is less easily induced to form crescents than at other periods in the division cycle. The data presented indicate that this is not due to a transitory period in the division cycle during which the cell is refractory to penicillin. The findings are discussed in support of the hypothesis that penicillin exerts its effect by destroying some component within the cell whose functioning is necessary for further cell-wall synthesis.