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Cell division of the Escherichia coli lon -mutant

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Summary

Escherichia coli lon -cells were subjected to treatments which produced a decrease in the DNA/mass ratio of the cell. Thymine starvation, a shift-up from minimal medium to rich medium, and exposure to BUdR each caused greater inhibition of cell division in lon -cells than in lon +cells. DNA metabolism was found to be the same in both lon +and lon -cells during these treatments. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the lon -defect leads to inhibition of cell division under conditions which produce a decreased DNA/mass ratio.

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Communicated by E. Witkin

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Walker, J.R., Smith, J.A. Cell division of the Escherichia coli lon -mutant. Molec. Gen. Genet. 108, 249–257 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283355

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