Cell wall assembly in Bacillus subtilis: development of bacteriophage-binding properties as a result of the pulsed incorporation of teichoic acid

Abstract

Addition of a pulse of excess phosphate to a phosphate-limited culture of B. subtilis W23 resulted in the synthesis and incorporation of wall material that contained teichoic acid. Consequently, the bacteria regained the ability to bind phage SP50 although maximum phage-binding properties did not develop until approximately half a generation time after incorporation of teichoic acid ceased. Newly synthesized receptor material is apparently incorporated at the inner surface of the wall and becomes exposed at the outer surface only during subsequent growth.