The chemistry of the cell walls of Bacillus anthracis: the effect of penicillin

Abstract

1. 1. Cell wall mucopeptide of Bacillus anthracis, strain V 1B-189 was prepared from cells grown in the presence and absence of penicillin. Both types contain an unusual inner membrane. 2. 2. These were analysed for reducing sugars, amino sugars and amino acids. Both types contained glutamic acid, alanine and diaminopimelic acid as the principle amino acids in the mole ratios of 1:1.5:1. 3. 3. Penicillin did not change the relative amounts of the different cell wall constituents but it did reduce the weight of all constituents per unit weight of mucopeptide.