RAPID GROWTH MUTANTS OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI

If rapid growth (rap) mutants of Escherichia coli could be obtained, t hese might prove a valuable contribution to fields as diverse as growt h rate control, biotechnology and the regulation of the bacterial cell cycle. To obtain rap mutants, a dnaQ mutator strain was grown for fou r and a half days continuously in batch culture. At the end of the sel ection period, there was no significant change in growth rate. This re sult means that selecting rap mutants may require an alternative strat egy and a number of such alternatives are discussed.