Chemical Inhibition of Cell Division of Escherichia coli by Diazo Compounds and Antagonism by Tyrosine

Abstract

The specificity of the chemical inhibition of division of E. coli and the relationship of division inhibition to important biochemical metabolites was investigated. Cell division processes of E. coli can be inhibited specifically, without an accompanying inhibition of culture growth, by diazouracil and other diazonium compounds. It is suggested that the diazo group on the compounds is responsible for the inhibition. Inhibition of division is antagonized by tyrosine and the antagonism cannot be attributed to destruction of the inhibitor by tyrosine. Other amino acids, glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, and energy-rich P compounds do not antagonize diazouracil-inhibited cultures.