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. 1980 Jun;28(3):735–745. doi: 10.1128/iai.28.3.735-745.1980

Sequential metabolic expressions of the lethal process in human serum-treated Escherichia coli: role of lysozyme.

R J Martinez, S F Carroll
PMCID: PMC551012  PMID: 6156906

Abstract

Several metabolic parameters indicative of Escherichia coli function and integrity were kinetically examined in response to treatment with normal human serum in the presence and absence of functional human lysozyme. Specific inhibition of this enzyme in bacteriolytic and bactericidal reactions was accomplished by using purified rabbit anti-human lysozyme immunoglobulin G. Initiation of the complement-mediated alterations of cytoplasmic membrane integrity, as judged by the leakage of 86Rb from prelabeled cells or the hydrolysis of o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside by a cryptic strain, was found to be independent of lysozyme action. Furthermore, inhibition of macromolecular synthesis by E. coli in response to serum treatment occurred at the same time regardless of the functional state of lysozyme. Although the rate and extent of bacteriolysis were reduced in the absence of lysozyme, the bactericidal kinetics was unaffected. These results demonstrate that the lethal events associated with the action of antibody and complement on gram-negative bacteria are independent of lysozyme, suggesting an accessory role for this enzyme in immune reactions. A possible temporal sequence of complement-induced effects occurring at the cell surface is presented.

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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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