Twisted states of Bacillus subtilis macrofibers reflect structural states of the cell wall.

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Abstract
Static and dynamic studies of helical B. subtilis macrofibers reveal that a spectrum of twisted states exists ranging from tight left-handed structures with twist equal to .apprxeq. 40 left turns/mm to tight right-handed structures with twist equal to 57 right turns/mm. In the lytic-deficient strain FJ7, twist varies as a function of growth temperature above or below 39.degree. C, where there is zero twist. The relationship between the temperature (< 39.degree. C) at which right-hand structures are produced to the time it takes for them to begin the inversion process in which they become left-handed following transfer to 48.degree. C reveals that structures with less twist are more rapidly converted to left-handedness than are those with higher values of twist. The initial response of live macrofibers to digestion by lysozyme consists of relaxation motions in which the twist of left- and right-handed structures changes towards the right-hand end of the spectrum. The rate of relaxation is .apprxeq. 5-fold higher at the left-hand end than at the right-hand end. Cell wall polymers can apparently assume a range of structural states during helical growth, and these determine the quantitative aspects of macrofiber shape and the sensitivity of walls to attack by lysozyme.

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