The Influence of Magnesium on Cell Division: The Effect of Magnesium on the Growth of Bacteria in Simple Chemically Defined Media

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Abstract
In simple, chemically defined media, all of 15 bacteria failed to grow in the complete absence of Mg. The concn. of Mg for maximum growth was dependent on the Gram reaction of the individual spp. examined, . the Mg requirements of the Gram-positive organisms being some 10 times greater than the requirements of the Gram-negative organisms. In contrast to the observations made in more complex media (peptone water), normal cell division occurred in chemically defined media containing suboptimal amts. of Mg. It is suggested that Mg is involved in the synthesis of bacterial protoplasm as well as cell division and, in simple chemically defined media, the synthetic reactions require the higher Mg concn.