Johnston G C
Can J Microbiol. 1975 May;21(5):639-47. doi: 10.1139/m75-092.
In cells of Bacillus there is evidence that deoxyribonucleic acid forms an association with some membranous structure within the cell, possibly mesosomes. Cells of varieties of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis were examined to see if any quantitative relationship existed between the numbers of mesosomes and DNA content. No direct relationship could be domonstrated. However, cells of Bacillus cereus var. alesti A(-) maintained a characteristic and constant DNA content and number of mesosomes regardless of growth conditions. During sporulation, a variant of A(-), termed A(-)3, SEQUESTERS ITS DNA at both ends of the cell, leaving a small amount of DNA but no mesosomes in the center compartment. Since this center compartment is capableof growth and division upon replacement in fresh medium (rejuventation) it was examinedfor mesosome content as DNA synthesis and division were initiated. In most cells, acentral mesosome was formed at the site of cell septum formation; however, the presenceof a mesosome was not an absolute prerequisite for cell division. We propose that atthe onset of cell growth, mesosomes primarily function in the process of cell septum formation. As growth and division proceed, mesosomes are produced in characteristicnumbers and may act as the site of DNA synthesis and (or) segregation.
在芽孢杆菌属的细胞中，有证据表明脱氧核糖核酸与细胞内的某些膜状结构（可能是间体）形成了一种结合。对蜡样芽孢杆菌和枯草芽孢杆菌的不同菌株细胞进行了检查，以确定间体数量与DNA含量之间是否存在任何定量关系。未发现直接关系。然而，蜡样芽孢杆菌变种阿莱斯蒂A（-）的细胞无论生长条件如何，都保持着特征性且恒定的DNA含量和间体数量。在芽孢形成过程中，A（-）的一个变种，称为A（-）3，将其DNA隔离在细胞两端，在中央隔室中只留下少量DNA但没有间体。由于这个中央隔室在重新接种到新鲜培养基中（复壮）时能够生长和分裂，因此在DNA合成和分裂开始时对其间体含量进行了检查。在大多数细胞中，在细胞隔膜形成的部位形成了一个中央间体；然而，间体的存在并不是细胞分裂的绝对先决条件。我们提出，在细胞生长开始时，间体主要在细胞隔膜形成过程中发挥作用。随着生长和分裂的进行，间体以特征性数量产生，并可能作为DNA合成和（或）分离的场所。
