Open AccessPhotosensitizing activity of water‐ and lipid‐soluble phthalocyanines on Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Bertolini Giulio,
Rossi Francesca,
Valduga Giuliana,
Jori Giulio,
Lier Johan
Publication year - 1990
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.1574-6968.1990.tb03814.x
Subject(s) - escherichia coli , chemistry , cytoplasm , zinc , phthalocyanine , membrane , biochemistry , photosensitivity , biophysics , bacteria , bacterial outer membrane , photochemistry , biology , organic chemistry , materials science , genetics , optoelectronics , gene
Escherichia coli , as most Gram‐negative bacteria, is insensitive to the photosensitizing action of both lipid‐soluble Zinc‐phthalocyanine (Zn‐Pc) and water‐soluble Zinc‐mono/disulfonated phthalocyanine (Zn‐PcS). Photosensitivity can be induced by alteration of the outer membrane, as obtained by either induction of competence or treatment with Tris‐EDTA. Both phthalocyanines largely bind at the level of the cytoplasmic membrane; however, Zn‐PcS shows a superior photosensitizing activity as compared with Zn‐Pc. Biochemical analyses performed on irradiated cells suggest that the cytoplasmic membrane is an important target of the photoprocess, while DNA is not involved.