No abstract

With a strain of bacteria isolated from distilled water it is possible to demonstrate splitting of the cytoplasmic membrane during freeze-fracturing. The fracture faces of the membrane are covered with particles, but in these bacteria frequently smooth areas appear. A second feature is a network-?ike pattern in distribution of particles caused by many small arid round areas free of particles. Smooth areas and the network-like pattern are occurring especiallyinsampIes of growing cultures and of damaged cells, whereas in samples of non-growing cultures both are very seldom. I n earlier investigations the dislocation of particles could be attributed to alterations in the structural proteins of the membrane. Therefore, the same is assumed for the occurrence of areas without particles on physiological conditions. The network-like pattern corresponds probably to one stage in the mechanism of growth of the membrane that of widening of the"mes1ies" of the network-like arrangement of structural proteins by loosening in several spots.