MECHANISM OF ACTION OF PENICILLIN

Abstract

Penicillin inhibits cell-wall synthesis. The treated cells therefore become osmotically fragile and lyse in ordinary media. In protective, hypertonic media, containing M/3 sucrose plus M/100 Mg++, the treated cells of Escherichia coli balloon into protoplasts. These will lyse if diluted in ordinary media, but revert to bacillary forms if penicillin is removed.