Open AccessIncreased cell size and shortened peptidoglycan interpeptide bridge of NaCl-stressed Staphylococcus aureus and their reversal by glycine betaine
Author(s) -
Uriwan Vijaranakul,
Mathew J. Nadakavukaren,
B. J. M. De Jonge,
Brian J. Wilkinson,
Radheshyam K. Jayaswal
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.177.17.5116-5121.1995
Subject(s) - peptidoglycan , betaine , staphylococcus aureus , biology , glycine , microbiology and biotechnology , cell wall , biochemistry , teichoic acid , biophysics , bacteria , amino acid , genetics
Staphylococcus aureus cells grown in a defined medium under conditions of high ionic stress (2.5 M NaCl) were significantly larger than cells grown under unstressed conditions, even though the cells grew much more slowly under stressed conditions. Analysis of the structure of peptidoglycan from stressed cells showed a shorter interpeptide bridge than in peptidoglycan from unstressed cells. Glycine betaine inclusion in the high-NaCl medium resulted in cells with sizes and interpeptide bridges similar to those of cells grown under unstressed conditions.