Open AccessRapid labelling of bacteria with [ 14 C]palmitic acid and its application in an aggregation assay
Author(s) -
Abaas Saleem
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1983.tb00493.x
Subject(s) - palmitic acid , labelling , bacteria , chemistry , biochemistry , chromatography , microbiology and biotechnology , fatty acid , biology , genetics
A rapid and simple procedure for labelling bacterial cells based on binding of [ 14 C]palmitic acid to the bacterial surface is described. The method was found convenient for both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria such as staphylococci, streptococci and Salmonella . Some factors affecting the binding of [ 14 C]palmitic acid to the surface of streptococci were examined. Treatment of bacteria with heat, trypsin or β‐galactosidase had no effect on labelling. The binding was relatively independent of ionic strength in the range 0.1–1 M NaCl, but was dependent on pH and presence of detergents. The [ 14 C]palmitic acid labelling method was tested in studies of aggregation of oral streptococci. The aggregation assay was sensitive and very reproducible.