Open AccessRole of Ionic Strength in Colicin K Adsorption
Author(s) -
D Cavard
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of general microbiology/journal of general microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2059-9323
pISSN - 0022-1287
DOI - 10.1099/00221287-99-1-13
Subject(s) - colicin , adsorption , escherichia coli , ionic strength , kinetics , chemistry , bacteria , ionic bonding , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , biochemistry , biology , ion , organic chemistry , genetics , physics , aqueous solution , quantum mechanics , gene
The rate of colicin K adsorption to Escherichia coli, and consequent death of the bacteria, is progressively inhibited with increasing ionic strength of the medium. Comparison of the kinetics of colicin adsorption with the kinetics of colicin killing suggests that the lethal event provoked by colicin occurs soon after irreversible colicin adsorption. Factors, such as salts, which protect bacteria against the lethal action of colicin act by preventing colicin adsorption.