Cell division in Erwinia: inhibition of nuclear body division in filaments grown in penicillin or mitomycin C.

Low concentrations of penicillin or mitomycin C in cultures of Erwinia sp. inhibit cell division. Electron-microscopic analysis of serial sections of these nondividing cells reveals that division of the nuclear body is also inhibited.

Fluoride-induced filaments of Erwinia carotovora.

Sodium fluoride induces filamentous growth of Erwinia carotovora when it is grown in liquid media containing aspartic acid only as the sole source of nitrogen. It is proposed that a stable complex of F(-)-Mg2+-enzyme and PO2(4) resulting in Mg2+ deficiency and consequent inability of E. carotovora cells to oxidize aspartic acid normally, is responsible for the formation of filaments in the presence of fluoride ions.

Requirement for pantothenate for filament formation by Erwinia carotovora.

Pantothenate is required for the formation of filaments by Erwinia carotovora. This has been demonstrated for the following division-inhibiting agents: D-serine, D-cycloserine, penicillin, vancomycin, fluoride ion, and ultraviolet light. D-Serine inhibits pantothenate synthesis in an ammonia-glucose or an ammonia-pyruvate medium; therefore, it is necessary to add pantothenate to obtain filament formation in these media, using D-serine as the division-inhibiting agent. Under conditions in which pantothenate synthesis is not inhibited by the agent producing filaments, the need for it for filamentation was shown by the use of salicylate, an inhibitor of endogenous pantothenate synthesis. Evidence is presented that the production of filaments is a specific response to pantothenate, rather than a nonspecific growth stimulation.