Abstract
The rate of cell wall synthesis with respect to both proteins and lipids was determined in synchronized cultures of Escherichia coli B/r. Whereas the rate of total protein synthesis showed an exponential increase with cell age, the rate of incorporation of proteins and lipids into cell wall had a maximum at a cell age of 30 to 35 min, 15 min before cell division. This oscillation was observed in both the cytoplasmic membrane and in the outer membrane of the cell envelope.