ABNORMAL GROWTH INDUCED BY PENICILLIN IN A STRAIN OF ALCALIGENES FECALIS

Abstract

The effect of penicillin on strain LB of Alcaligenes fccalis has been studied. In tryptone, 50 units/ml. of penicillin transforms the bacillary form of this organism into a protoplast-like structure (globular form) which is capable of exponential growth and division. The division rate of this globular form is about one-half that of the bacillary form. Removal of penicillin results in the reversion of the globular to the bacillary form. Multiplication of the globular form has been found to depend on the presence of some principle present in tryptone not required for bacillary growth in the absence of penicillin. The kinetics of the transformation and reversion process have been studied, leading to the hypothesis that penicillin affects some component: within the cell, this component being concerned with cell division and the elaboration of the cell wall.