The Journal of Antibiotics
Online ISSN : 1881-1469
Print ISSN : 0021-8820
ISSN-L : 0021-8820
POLYCATIONS WHICH DISORGANIZE THE OUTER MEMBRANE INHIBIT CONJUGATION IN ESCHERICHIA COLI
PETRI VILJANEN
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1987 Volume 40 Issue 6 Pages 882-886

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Abstract

Outer membrane disorganizing polycation, polymyxin B nonapeptide (PMBN), reduced drastically the production of recombinants when present at sub-MIC concentrations during F'-mediated Escherichia coll conjugation. The decrease of recombinants was accompanied by a less marked decrease of viability in the recipient population in a manner resembling lethal zygosis. No reduction was seen when either donor or recipient was grown in the same PMBN concentration, washed and resuspended to PMBN-free medium before mating. The same concentration of outer membrane disorganizing polycations of higher bactericidal activity (protamine and polylysine) caused only a moderate reduction in transconjugant frequency when present during mating. Spermine and tetralysine, which are not effective disorganizers of the outer membrane, did not reduce the recombinant frequency or the viability of the recipients.

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© Japan Antibiotics Research Association
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