Division-inhibition capacity of penicillin in Escherichia coli is growth-rate dependent.
Growing bacteria are sensitive to various beta-lactam derivatives due to their interference with peptidoglycan biosynthesis. At low concentrations, penicillin G (benzylpenicillin) blocks cell division without affecting mass growth rate. The MIC for division of Escherichia coli B/r (H266) was found to depend on the growth rate, which was modified by the nutritional conditions. Our hypothesis, that division sensitivity is proportional to the rate of peptidoglycan synthesis for septum formation, as well as to cell circumference, was thus confirmed.
Hadas
Hilla
H
Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,PO Box 653, Be'er-Sheva,Israel 84105.
Einav
Monica
M
Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,PO Box 653, Be'er-Sheva,Israel 84105.
Fishov
Itzhak
I
Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,PO Box 653, Be'er-Sheva,Israel 84105.
Zaritsky
Arieh
A
Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,PO Box 653, Be'er-Sheva,Israel 84105.
D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D007700:Kinetics; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D003470:Culture Media; D010400:Penicillin G