Abstract
Summary
Sodium ricinoleate interferes with cell division in E. coli causing the organisms to develop as filaments. The effect appears to be specific and dependent upon the 9:10 unsaturation and the 12-hydroxy group as well as the cis-configuration around the double bond, present in this fatty acid. A variety of metabolites, as well as other organic and inorganic compounds, were tested for an ability to induce cell division in filamentous forms of the organisms. Of the substances evaluated, only inorganic phosphate consistently and rapidly caused such an effect.
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