JOLIPEPTIN, A NEW PEPTIDE ANTIBIOTIC

II. THE MODE OF ACTION OF JOLIPEPTIN

Abstract

Jolipeptin causes a release of 260 mμ, absorbing materials from the jolipeptin-sensitive strains, Escherichia coli B and Bacillus subtilis PCI 219. Moreover, Jolipeptin lyses not only protoplasts of B. subtilis PCI 219 and Micrococcus lysodeikticus, but also spheroplasts of E. coli B and Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO 3901. In contrast, colistin, produced simultaneously with Jolipeptin, lysed spheroplasts of E. coli B and P. aeruginosa IFO 3901, but not protoplasts of gram-positive bacteria, the latter being colistin-insensitive strains. On the basis of this study, it was concluded that Jolipeptin acts primarily on the cellular membrane.