Fluoride-induced filaments of Erwinia carotovora
B. A. GASHE and M. M. GRULA (Eingegangen am 27.9.1982) Sodium fluoride induces filamentous growth ofErwinia carotovora whenit is grown in liquidmedia containing aspartic acid only as the sole source of nitrogen. It is proposed that a stable complex of F--MgZ+enzyme and POi,resulting in Mge+ deficiency and consequent inability of E. cardouora cells to oxidize aspartic acid normally, is responsible for the formation of filaments in the presence of fluoride ions.
Many chemical agents, as well as ultraviolet light, are capable of inducing filament formation in rod-shaped bacteria (GRULA 1960, LARK and LARK 1961, WALKER and KOVAR~E 1975). Certain chemical substances, including six D-aminO acids and antibiotics which interfer with cell wall synthesis, result in filaments, in a strain of Erwinia curotovora (GRULA and GRULA 1962). To our knowledge the ability of inorganic fluoride ion to bring about division inhibition in any bacterium has not been reported. Fluoride is capable of inducing very long filaments in E. carotovora under certain conditions without being extremely toxic for growth. The observations reported here are related to the mechanism of control of cell division in E . carotovora and, we believe they could contribute to a better understanding of this mechanism.