The effect of K2Cr2O7 on the growth and morphology of Escherichia coli.

Treatment with 16 microM K2Cr2O7 results is a time-dependent loss of the clonogenicity of E. coli cells. Under the same experimental conditions, optical density values do not change significantly, since cells have the ability to replicate but not to septate. In fact, microscopic analysis of samples taken over 240 min of exposure to the toxin has revealed the formation of filaments. The filamentous response appears similar to that generated by mitomycin C.