Biosynthesis of Bacterial Cell Walls

摘要

The investigation originated in an attempt to determine why deficiencies of vitamin B6, biotin, and pantothenic acid markedly reduce the steady state amino acid accumulation level in Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus faecalis despite a normal initial transport rate. In the course of these studies a large number of related investigations have been carried out and are summarized. These include: Studies on enhanced RNA degradation in vitamin B6-deficient cells; A demonstration that intracellular amino acid pools in bacteria are osmotically active; An in vitro study of the biosynthesis of a dipeptide, D-alanylcysteine; A demonstration that a pantothenic acid deficiency renders L. plantarum unusually sensitive to lysozyme digestion; A quantitative description of the lipid constituents of S. faecalis and L. plantarum; An investigation of the biochemical basis of a marked lytic tendency in S. faecalis grown in biotin-deficient media; Electron microscopic studies; A demonstration of actinomycin D inhibition of amino acid transport; and A description of the transport systems which function for aminophosphonic acid uptake in bacteria. (Author)