Figure 2. Acetate potentiates cell death.

(A) Aliquots of S. aureus UAMS-1 were sampled over time and their O.D.₆₀₀ determined. Depletion of glucose (B), acetate levels (C) and pH of culture supernatants (D) were determined at the indicated times. (E) The growth inhibitory effects of acetate under low pH were assessed in TSB buffered at pH 4.8 with 30 mM HOMOPIES. Various salts including sodium chloride, sodium acetate, and sodium benzoate were supplemented to the media at a final concentration of 50 mM and growth monitored (n = 3, mean ± SD). Stationary phase viability (F), CTC/HPF double staining (G), EPR spectroscopy analysis (H), TUNEL staining (I) and respiratory capacity (J) of 72-hour cultures were determined following growth in TSB-35 mM glucose buffered with 50 mM MOPS, pH 7.3.