The Influence of Magnesium on Cell Division 6. The Action of Certain Hydrolytic Enzymes on the Filamentous and Chain Forms of Gram-Positive Rod-Shaped Organisms

SUMMARY: The chains which are formed when rod-shaped Gram-positive bacteria are grown in media containing low concentrations of magnesium, undergo fission when exposed to the action of lysozyme. This effect is not produced by various other hydrolytic enzymes including the carbohydrases, cellulase and hyaluronidase, Fracgmentation of the filameatous forms of the Gram-positive organisms, however, is not produced by lysozyme. A crude preparation obtained from mechanically disintograted Clostridium welchii cells resembled lysozyme in its action on the magnesium-deficient organisms.