title: Autolysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
abstract: Physiological conditions that would provide maximal rates of autolysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were examined. Autolysis was found to occur over a broad pH range with the optimum at pH 9.0 IN 0.05 M tris(hydroxymethyl)amino-methane-maleate buffer. The temperature optimum was found to be 40 C. Potassium ions greatly stimulated autolysis at a concentration of 0.01 M. Exposure of growing N. gonorrhoeae cells to penicillin, vancomycin, or D-cycloserine influenced the susceptibility to the autolysis, whereas chloramphenicol afforded some protection against autolysis. The primary structure of the peptidoglycan is composed of muramic acid/glutamic acid/alanine/diaminopimelic acid/glucosamine in approximate molar ratios of 1:1:2:1:1, respectively. Exogenous radioactive diaminopimelic acid, D-glucosamine, and D-alanine were incorporated into peptidoglycan. During autolysis these radioactive fragments were released from cells.
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D001433:Bacteriolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D002854:Chromatography, Paper; D003523:Cycloserine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003960:Diaminopimelic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D003960:Diaminopimelic Acid; D014640:Vancomycin; D003523:Cycloserine; D005944:Glucosamine; D000409:Alanine; D011188:Potassium