The effects of inhibition of protein synthesis on the cell size distributions of rel+ and relA− derivatives of Escherichia coli K-12 were determined. Amino acid deprivation resulted in a reduction in the cell sizes of rel+ strains but not of relA− strains. Treatment with chloramphenicol (CAM) did not alter the size distributions of either rel+ or relA− strains except when they were rel+dap−. CAM treatment of rel+dap− strains resulted in an increase in cell size. It is proposed that these results reflect differences in the structures of the cell envelopes of rel+ and relA− bacteria.
Binding of metals to cell envelopes of Escherichia coli K-12.