Cellular Physiology during Logarithmic Growth of a Streptococcal L-Form

Abstract

Certain synthetic processes of a stable L-form and its parent Streptococcus were compared to examine whether conversion was accompanied by significant alterations in the growth pattern. DNA and RNA were isolated from the Streptoco-coccus and its derived L-form, degraded, and molar base ratios measured and compared. Conversion to the L-form apparently did not result in a disturbance of synthetic processes related to DNA and RNA rates of syntheses and growth measured by extinction of cultures, colony count and dry weight increases. The stable L-form, although almost twice as slow growing, as compared with the Streptococcus, re-tained the ability to function in an orderly manner and was capable of balanced growth. Conversion from Streptococcus to L-form did not result in an addition to the DNA base complement (5-methylcytosine, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine) nor in a quantitative alteration in the molar base ratio of either nucleic-acid in the resulting L-form. The disorganization in L-form division characteristic of L-form growth was not directly related to an obvious disturbance in any of the parameters examined.