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Physicochemical Effects of Long Chain Fatty Acids on Bacterial Cells and their Protoplasts
Author(s) -
Galbraith H.,
Miller T. B.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1973.tb04150.x
Subject(s) - lysis , protoplast , bacillus megaterium , biochemistry , linoleic acid , lytic cycle , chemistry , fatty acid , lauric acid , biology , bacteria , genetics , virus , virology
S ummary . Fatty acids of chain length > C 10 induced lysis of protoplasts at pH 7·4 when the concentration was nearly bactericidal. At pH 6, lauric and linoleic acids produced lysis above bactericidal concentrations but, at pH 8, lysis was produced by the same acids below bactericidal concentrations. The lysis was immediate at pH 8, but at pH 6 the effect was preceded by contraction of protoplasts. At pH 7·4 the order of lytic activity between individual fatty acids was similar to that of bactericidal activity and the response of protoplasts of Bacillus megaterium relative to those of Micrococcus lysodeikticus reflected differences in bactericidal sensitivity though whole cells were much less sensitive to fatty acid‐induced leakage effects than protoplasts. Reversal agents antagonized the lysis of protoplasts by fatty acids. A physicochemical basis for the action of fatty acids and reversal agents on protoplasts and whole cells is discussed.