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. 1985 Jan;49(1):192–197. doi: 10.1128/aem.49.1.192-197.1985

Tolerance of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 to the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide: role of the bioemulsifier emulsan.

Y Shabtai, D L Gutnick
PMCID: PMC238368  PMID: 3838426

Abstract

Emulsan, the polyanionic heteropolysaccharide bioemulsifier produced by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1, was found to enhance the tolerance of RAG-1 cells to the toxic effects of the cationic detergent cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Emulsan-mediated tolerance was obtained with the purified deproteinated apoemulsan; ca. 9 micrograms of apoemulsan neutralized 1 microgram of CTAB. Deesterified apoemulsan was only half as effective in protecting the cells from CTAB toxicity. Tolerance was also mediated by the cell-associated emulsan minicapsule. Mutants lacking this capsule were more sensitive to CTAB than the corresponding parent. The growth of mutants and parent cells in mixed-culture experiments demonstrated that the cell-associated polymer mediates CTAB tolerance in the early stages of growth. Once sufficient cell-free polymer has been released into the aqueous medium (ca. 0.5 micrograms/ml), this extracellular emulsan also plays a role in CTAB tolerance.

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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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