Activity of an autolytic N-acetylmuramidase during sphere-rod morphogenesis in Arthrobacter crystallopoietes

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Abstract
Cells of A. crystailopoietes grow as spheres in glucose-mineral salts (GS) medium and can be induced to form rods by addition of peptone, succinate and certain other compounds. Changes in cell wall polysaccharides and peptides during morphogenesis were reported. The polysaccharide "backbones" of the sphere cell wall peptidoglycan heterogeneous in size averaged less than 40 hexosamines/chain. Those of the rod cell walls were more homogeneous in size and averaged 114-135 hexosamines/chain. We have investigated the relationship between autolytic enzymes and morphogenetic events. The results reveal the presence of an N-acetylmuramidase; the activity of this enzyme during morphogenesis correlates positively with the observed changes in the polysaccharide backbones.