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J Bacteriol. 1970 December; 104(3): 1176-1188
Copyright © 1970 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Cell Wall Synthesis by Chlamydia psittaci Growing in L Cells

Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637

ABSTRACT

Biochemical events accompanying changes in structure and behavior of the cell walls of Chlamydia psittaci strain 6BC during its developmental cycle in L cells (mouse fibroblasts) were studied by measuring at short intervals the effect of D-cycloserine and penicillin G on incorporation of labeled intermediates into acid-insoluble fractions of infected L cells in which host incorporation had been inhibited by cycloheximide and into intact chlamydial cells and cell walls separated from the infected L cells. D-Cycloserine enhanced the incorporation of ¹⁴C-L-alanine at all times in the developmental cycle, but the incorporation of ¹⁴C-L-lysine was always inhibited. In parallel experiments, penicillin G had no effect on incorporation of any of these intermediates, but when infected L cells incorporated ¹⁴C-L-alanine in the presence of penicillin G, the labeled alanine was released more rapidly in the subsequent absence of the antibiotic than in its continued presence. When either penicillin G or D-cycloserine was present throughout the developmental cycle, C. psittaci continued to synthesize deoxyribonucleic acid and protein, but at less than normal rates.