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. 1995 Sep;177(17):5116–5121. doi: 10.1128/jb.177.17.5116-5121.1995

Increased cell size and shortened peptidoglycan interpeptide bridge of NaCl-stressed Staphylococcus aureus and their reversal by glycine betaine.

U Vijaranakul 1, M J Nadakavukaren 1, B L de Jonge 1, B J Wilkinson 1, R K Jayaswal 1
PMCID: PMC177291  PMID: 7665491

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus cells grown in a defined medium under conditions of high ionic stress (2.5 M NaCl) were significantly larger than cells grown under unstressed conditions, even though the cells grew much more slowly under stressed conditions. Analysis of the structure of peptidoglycan from stressed cells showed a shorter interpeptide bridge than in peptidoglycan from unstressed cells. Glycine betaine inclusion in the high-NaCl medium resulted in cells with sizes and interpeptide bridges similar to those of cells grown under unstressed conditions.

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Selected References

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