Table 1 Comparison between K. viridifaciens cell wall-deficient cells

From: Stress-induced formation of cell wall-deficient cells in filamentous actinomycetes

Characteristic

Protoplast

L-form

S-cell

Origin

Osmoprotective conditions combined with lysozyme treatment

Osmoprotective conditions combined with prolonged exposure to lysozyme and penicillin G

Osmoprotective conditions

Area (µm2)

4.01 ± 1.93

7.06 ± 5.87

20.73 ± 11.53

Cell wall

Homogeneous regeneration. Wall material mostly associated with the cell surface

Not uniform, disordered assembly. Wall material often detached from the cell surface

Not uniform, disordered assembly. Wall material sometimes detached from the cell surface

Genotype

Wild type

Mutant

Wild type

  1. Bacteria can be forced to grow without cell wall if cell wall synthesis is inhibited. Here, Ramijan et al.30 show that, in filamentous actinomycetes, hyperosmotic stress induces formation of wall-deficient cells that can switch to normal mycelial growth, or mutate and proliferate indefinitely as wall-less forms.
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