The effect of methyl glyoxal on cell division and the synthesis of protein and DNA in synchronous and asynchronous cultures of Escherichia coli B/r.

Methyl glyoxal inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli in synchronous and asynchronous culture. The inhibition of growth is accompanied by immediate inhibition of protein synthesis and of the initiation of replication of DNA. When methyl glyoxal is added after initiation of a round of replication the elongation of new DNA chains is not inhibited. Cell division is inhibited if methyl glyoxal is added up to about 22 min prior to division. These results support the view that the primary effect of methyl glyoxal is on protein synthesis.