[Morphological changes in the cells of Escherichia coli damaged by nitrous yperite]

Nitrous yperite supressed division of E. coli cells; as a result, filaments and giant abnormal cells appeared. Apparently, giant forms were caused by defects in the cell wall induced by nitrous ypertie due to a mutation in the mon gene of the strain. These cells gave rise to normal cells as well as to small bacteria resembling mini-cell.