Volume growth, murein synthesis, and murein cross-linkage during the division cycle of Escherichia coli PA3092.
Cells of Escherichia coli PA3092 were synchronized by centrifugal elutriation. The synchronously growing cells were double labeled with -3H or DL-[meso-2,6-14C]diaminopimelic acid (DAP) at different times. Cells incorporated [3H]DAP at a continuously increasing rate during their cycle, with a maximum occurring at about 30 min before division for trichloroacetic acid-precipitated cells (whole cells) and about 10 min before division for sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated cells (sacculi). This was in good agreement with the observed kinetics of volume growth under these conditions. Furazlocillin, which preferentially interacts with penicillin-binding protein 3, modified the pattern of incorporation of [3H]DAP. Electron microscopy indicated that furazlocillin did not inhibit the initiation of division but rather its completion. In addition, we measured the cross-linking of the murein inserted at different times during synchronous growth. The highest percentages were found to occur around division. At this same time, the cross-linking of old peptidoglycan was found to be decreased.
D001390:Azlocillin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003960:Diaminopimelic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D048289:Imidazolidines; D007700:Kinetics; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000378:metabolism*
D048289:Imidazolidines; D010406:Penicillins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D003960:Diaminopimelic Acid; D001390:Azlocillin; C017976:furazlocillin