Abstract
IN Escherichia coli the completion of a round of chromosome replication is necessary before cell division can take place1,2. A normal cell is therefore unable to divide unless it has at least two chromosomes. If DNA synthesis is specifically inhibited, cell division will continue only until each cell contains a single chromosome. Division then ceases but growth continues so that long filamentous cells are formed3. We describe here the consequences of blocking DNA synthesis in Bacillus subtilis. In this case division of the growing cells continues in spite of the inhibition of DNA replication. Eventually, not only are all pre-existing chromosomes segregated into separate cells but large numbers of cells are formed which contain no DNA.
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DONACHIE, W., MARTIN, D. & BEGG, K. Independence of Cell Division and DNA Replication in Bacillus subtilis. Nature New Biology 231, 274–276 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio231274a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio231274a0
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