Wall turnover deficiency of Bacillus subtilis Nil5 is due to a decrease in teichoic acid

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Abstract
Bacillus subtilis Ni15 is deficient in cell wall turnover. This deficiency is removed if the medium contains 0.2 M NaCl, which does not affect growth. The levels of amidase and glucosaminidase, the most likely enzymes involved in turnover, were, in stationary phase Nil5 cells, similar to those in late-exponential phase cells of a standard strain. The Nil5 enzymes were not salt sensitive. However, the Nil5 walls contained 4.7-fold less phosphorus than the walls of the standard strain. Since the phosphorus content of B. subtilis walls reflects the level of teichoic acid, it is proposed that the turnover deficiency of this strain is due to a decrease in wall teichoic acid.