Peptidoglycan biosynthesis by preparations from Bacillus licheniformis: cross linking of newly synthesized chains to preformed cell wall

Abstract

A wall + membrane preparation from a Bacillus licheniformis mutant incorporated radioactivity from a peptidoglycan precursor in which the free amino group of diaminopimelic acid was blocked by 14C labelled acetyl group. This incorporation was penicillin sensitive. The enzymically degraded product contained cross linked dimers, showing that newly synthesized peptidoglycan chains had been cross linked to the pre existing cell wall.