Flagella of Salmonella Typhimurium Spheroplasts.

Vaituzis, Z. (University of Maryland, College Park), and R. N. Doetsch. Flagella of Salmonella typhimurium spheroplasts. J. Bacteriol. 89:1586-1593. 1965.-The flagella of penicillin-induced spheroplasts of Salmonella typhimurium were examined by electron and light microscopy. The process of spheroplast formation was followed for a period of 20 hr from its inception. Flagella were found to be confined to those areas of the spheroplast where cell-wall fragments remained. Flagella disappeared as the spheroplasts aged. Spheroplasts produced from nonflagellated organisms were found incapable of synthesizing flagella. Upon inactivation of the penicillin, however, flagella again were synthesized by spheroplasts during reversion to their original rod form. Flagella formation, it is suggested, is dependent on prior synthesis of the normal cell wall. The morphology of the microorganisms at the time of appearance of new flagella is described.