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J Bacteriol. 1969 June; 98(3): 1320-1327
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Changes in the Plasma Membrane of Escherichia coli During Magnesium Starvation

^a Department of Botany, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720

ABSTRACT

The effect of Mg⁺⁺ starvation on the structure of the Escherichia coli cell membrane was studied with the freeze-etch technique. Special attention was paid to changes within the plane of the membrane, which in normal exponentially growing cells has a netlike arrangement of particles 2 to 6 nm in diameter. During Mg⁺⁺ starvation, a paracrystalline particle pattern appeared on the plasma membrane, and large areas devoid of particles were seen. Although these changes are reproducibly associated with Mg⁺⁺ starvation of the bacteria, no decrease in the Mg⁺⁺ content of the cell envelope per se was detected, even after 24 hr of Mg⁺⁺ deprivation. The structural changes caused by Mg⁺⁺ deprivation appeared to involve specific and permanent alterations in membrane development. The absence of other nutrients or divalent cations did not induce similar alterations.

¹ Present address: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Ore. 97403.