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. 1982 Feb;149(2):748–757. doi: 10.1128/jb.149.2.748-757.1982

Expansion of the tetragonally arrayed cell wall protein layer during growth of Bacillus sphaericus.

L V Howard, D D Dalton, W K McCoubrey Jr
PMCID: PMC216568  PMID: 7035436

Abstract

The outermost layer of the cell wall of Bacillus sphaericus strain P-1 is a tetragonally arrayed structure (T-layer) which is assembled from a single polypeptide. No turnover of T-layer was detected during growth of cultures. In contrast, the turnover of peptidoglycan was between 20 and 25% per generation. The sites of deposition of new T-layer on the cell surface were identified by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique, which labeled old T-layer, and by the reverse technique, which labeled new T-layer. These experiments demonstrated that the major area of T-layer deposition was a band at the site of an incipient cell division. This band subsequently split and covered the new pole of each progeny cell. Little or no T-layer was inserted into existing poles. In addition, multiple bands of new T-layer, which probably accommodate cell elongation, were inserted along the lateral surface of the cell.

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