This review summarizes the main results obtained in the fields of general and molecular microbiology and microbial genetics at the Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (AS CR) [formerly Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (CAS)] over more than 50 years. Contribution of the founder of the Institute, academician Ivan Málek, to the introduction of these topics into the scientific program of the Institute of Microbiology and to further development of these studies is also included.

• MeSH
• Academies and Institutes history   MeSH
• History, 20th Century MeSH
• Genetics, Microbial history   MeSH
• Molecular Biology history   MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, 20th Century MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Historical Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

Defects in the formation of the septum and gradually autolysis of cells occur when the dap-dependent mutant of Escherichia coli is grown in a medium with 4-hydroxy-diaminopimelic acid. When the culture grown in the presence of the labelled analogue is supplemented with the non-radioactive diaminopimelic acid a portion of the TCA-soluble radioactivity is released from the cells during 20 min after the addition of diaminopimelic acid. During this time interval the elongated forms formed in the presence of the analogue divide, however, only on the condition that the above forms are not irreversibly damaged. The increased concentration of the analogue in the medium substantially suppresses the irregularities in the development of the septum as well as the degradation of analogue containing cell wall. However, the growth rate in the presence of the analogue is always slightly lower than that in the presence of diaminopimelic acid. The cell wall pulse-labelled with diaminopimelic acid or its analogue for a time interval shorter than 1/4 of the generation time exhibits the same or only slightly higher rate of diaminopimelic acid is probably utilized less effectively for the synthesis of murein than diaminopimelic acid. However, its incorporation into the wall does not result in pronounced damage of the cell.

• MeSH
• Cell Wall metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Division MeSH
• Escherichia coli growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Hydroxy Acids metabolism   MeSH
• Diaminopimelic Acid analogs & derivatives   metabolism   MeSH
• Pimelic Acids metabolism   MeSH
• Mutation MeSH
• Peptidoglycan biosynthesis   metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Hydroxy Acids MeSH
• Diaminopimelic Acid MeSH
• Pimelic Acids MeSH
• Peptidoglycan MeSH

• MeSH
• Alanine analysis   MeSH
• Bacillus megaterium analysis   growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Wall analysis   metabolism   MeSH
• Time Factors MeSH
• Phosphorus analysis   MeSH
• Chromatography, Gel MeSH
• Glucosamine analysis   MeSH
• Glycine analysis   MeSH
• Aspartic Acid analysis   MeSH
• Muramic Acids analysis   MeSH
• Pimelic Acids analysis   MeSH
• Peptidoglycan analysis   MeSH
• Phosphorus Radioisotopes MeSH
• Carbon Radioisotopes MeSH
• Serine analysis   MeSH
• Spores, Bacterial growth & development   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Alanine MeSH
• Phosphorus MeSH
• Glucosamine MeSH
• Glycine MeSH
• Aspartic Acid MeSH
• Muramic Acids MeSH
• Pimelic Acids MeSH
• Peptidoglycan MeSH
• Phosphorus Radioisotopes MeSH
• Carbon Radioisotopes MeSH
• Serine MeSH