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. 1972 Jul;111(1):272–283. doi: 10.1128/jb.111.1.272-283.1972

Autolysis of Microbial Cells: Salt Activation of Autolytic Enzymes in a Mutant of Staphylococcus aureus

Richard W Gilpin 1, Anadi N Chatterjee 1, Frank E Young 1
PMCID: PMC251268  PMID: 4591480

Abstract

The effect of various salts on the autolysis of cell wall of a ribitol teichoic acid-deficient mutant of Staphylococcus aureus H (strain 52A5 carrying tar-1) was compared with the parent strain. In the presence of high concentrations of certain salts such as 1.0 m NaCl, the mutant undergoes autolysis with the release of osmotically sensitive spheroplasts. The parent strain is not affected by these conditions. The stimulation of lysis is related to an activation of N-acylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase.

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Selected References

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