The complete sequence of murein synthesis in ether treated Escherichia coli.

The in vitro synthesis of murein from the precursors UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, L-alanine, D-glutamic acid and meso-diaminopimelic acid was performed with the aid of ether treated Escherichia coli. This synthesis was sensitive to representative inhibitors of early reactions in the cytoplasm as well as of late reactions in the membrane or the cell wall. The sensitivity was higher than in in vitro systems starting with UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid or UDP-N-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide.