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. 1970 Dec;104(3):1176–1188. doi: 10.1128/jb.104.3.1176-1188.1970

Cell Wall Synthesis by Chlamydia psittaci Growing in L Cells

Ilse I E Tribby 1
PMCID: PMC248275  PMID: 16559091

Abstract

Biochemical events accompanying changes in structure and behavior of the cell walls of Chlamydia psittaci strain 6BC during its developmental cycle in L cells (mouse fibroblasts) were studied by measuring at short intervals the effect of d-cycloserine and penicillin G on incorporation of labeled intermediates into acid-insoluble fractions of infected L cells in which host incorporation had been inhibited by cycloheximide and into intact chlamydial cells and cell walls separated from the infected L cells. d-Cycloserine enhanced the incorporation of 14C-l-alanine at all times in the developmental cycle, but the incorporation of 14C-l-lysine was always inhibited. In parallel experiments, penicillin G had no effect on incorporation of any of these intermediates, but when infected L cells incorporated 14C-l-alanine in the presence of penicillin G, the labeled alanine was released more rapidly in the subsequent absence of the antibiotic than in its continued presence. When either penicillin G or d-cycloserine was present throughout the developmental cycle, C. psittaci continued to synthesize deoxyribonucleic acid and protein, but at less than normal rates.

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Selected References

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