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Abstract
When filamentous swarming cells of Proteus mirabilis were observed on the surface of agar, they were seen to divide asynchronously into short cells. Inhibition of DNA synthesis with nalidixic acid had no effect on the division for about 2 hours which allowed time for the potential number of divisions to occur. Inhibition of protein synthesis with chloramphenicol allowed only 2 or 3 divisions and division stopped after 45-60 min. Inhibition of murein synthesis with penicillin stopped division immediately, but elongation continued for 30-45 min. The cells then began to bulge and burst and there was disorganisation of the nuclear material. The implications of these observations with regard to the mechanism of production of swarming filaments in Proteus are discussed and it is concluded that a lesion associated with the swarming character is probably in the cell membrane.
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