Abstract
The cells of Escherichia coli at the logarithmic phase of growth lost their colony-forming ability when the cells were suspended in Tris buffer containing 0.15M sodium chloride. The colony-forming ability was recovered rapidly when sodium chloride-treated cells were incubated in Tris buffer containing magnesium ion immediately after the treatment. The magnesium- mediated recovery was not inhibited by either chloramphenicol, 2, 4-dinitrophenol,
or sodium azide. Moreover, a higher recovery was observed by incubation at 3° rather than at 30°. A significant release of UV-absorbing materials occurred during incubation in Tris buffer containing sodium chloride. This release was almost completely suppressed when magnesium ion was present in the incubation medium.
