STUDIES ON BACTERIAL CELL MULTIPLICATION: SYNCHRONOUS SEGMENTATION OF FILAMENTOUS CELLS OF LACTOBACILLUS DELBRUECKII

Abstract

Several nutritional conditions were tested for their capacity to synchronize the segmentation of filamentous cells of Lactobacillus delbrueckii produced by growth under vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. A medium containing adenine, guanine, uracil, vitamin B₂, B₁₂, folic acid, niacin, and pantothenic acid, beside glucose, amino acid, and inorganic salts was found to be most effective in synchronizing the segmentation of filamentous cells which was not followed by separation and growth of daughter cells. Cytological observations disclosed that the segmentation of filamentous cells in this medium was preceded by an increase in stainability with HCl-Giemsa and the rearrangement in cells of nuclear bodies.