2000 Volume 41 Issue 5 Pages 297-302
The combined action of glycine and ethanol on the cell membrane of Escherichia coli was studied from the standpoint of membrane damage.
Though the leakage of materials showing absorption at 260 nm from the cells was suppressed by glycine and ethanol, that of proteins or potassium was increased by ethanol only or the combined reagents. The SDS-PAGE profile of the proteins released from the cells treated with the reagents was similar to that the peripheral proteins prepared from cells treated with Triton X-100. However, peripheral proteins were not denatured by the combined action of the reagents.
On the other hand, the action of the reagents on succinate dehydrogenase activity of the cells was investigated. The enzyme activity in vivo was activated by the combined use of the reagents but that of the cell envelopes prepared from the cells was inhibited.
The respiratory activities of the cells injured by the reagents were restored by incubation in recovery broth, but were not restored in the presence of chloramphenicol.
From these results, we conclude that the combined action of glycine and ethanol injures the membrane of E. coli.
