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. 1987 Mar;53(3):505–508. doi: 10.1128/aem.53.3.505-508.1987

Lysis of Bacillus subtilis Cells by Glycerol and Sucrose Esters of Fatty Acids

Tetsuaki Tsuchido 1,*, Yung-Hoon Ahn 1,†, Mitsuo Takano 1
PMCID: PMC203696  PMID: 16347300

Abstract

The lytic action of glycerol and sucrose esters of fatty acids with different carbon chain lengths on the exponentially growing cells of Bacillus subtilis 168 was investigated. Of each series of esters, glycerol dodecanoate and sucrose hexadecanoate were the most active. Lysis at 1 h after the addition of 0.1 mM glycerol dodecanoate or 20 μg of sucrose hexadecanoate per ml was 81 or 79%, respectively, as evaluated by the reduction in optical density. During this treatment a great loss of viability occurred that preceded lysis. The results that were obtained suggest that autolysis is induced by these esters. The esters caused morphological changes in the cells, but a seeming adaptation of the cells to esters was seen.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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