ALTERATIONS IN THE CELL-ENVELOPE COMPOSITION OF PROTEUS-MIRABILIS DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SWARMER CELLS

Long, swarming cells of Proteus mirabilis had different proportions of some lipopolysaccharide components when compared to short cells, either agar grown or broth grown. Fluorescence spectrophotometry of antibody binding, and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polycrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the change was in the proportion of lipopolysaccharide with long O-antigenic sidechains, swarmer cells having more long sidechain lipopolysaccharide relative to short sidechain lipopolysaccharide than the non-swarming cells. The proteins and phospholipids of the envelope remained the same during swarmer development. The results are discussed in relation to the increase in flagella synthesis and permeability to some antibacterial agents during swarmer development. © 1979.