title: Effect of disulphite on protein and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid synthesis in sporulating cells of bacterial species.
abstract: The effect of disulphite on protein and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (dipicolinic acid, DPA) synthesis was investigated in sporulating cells of Bacillus subtilis E52 and B. cereus W18. Progressive reductions were evident in the protein and DPA concentrations for both sporulating cells with increasing concentrations (100 to 600 micrograms ml-1) of disulphite. A significant (P less than 0.05) reduction in protein synthesis by disulphite was exhibited, culminating in a decrease in protein synthesis ranging from 50% to 1.4%, and 50% to 2.5%, in B. subtilis E52 and B. cereus W18, respectively. The same disulphite concentrations caused a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in DPA synthesis ranging from 75% to 12.5% and 70% to 5%, for B. subtilis E52 and B. cereus W18, respectively. DPA synthesis was completely prevented at 500 and 600 micrograms ml-1 for B. subtilis E52 and B. cereus W18, respectively. A plausible mechanism for the inhibitory action of disulphite on sporulating cells of the bacteria is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Oloyede
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Abalaka
mesh_terms: D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010848:Picolinic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D013447:Sulfites / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010848:Picolinic Acids; D013447:Sulfites; C005200:sodium metabisulfite; C004860:dipicolinic acid