title: Effects of mucopolysaccharides on penicillin-induced lysis of Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Effects of four mucopolysaccharides and dextran sulphate on penicillin-induced lysis of Staphylococcus aureus FDA 209P were studied. Heparin and dextran sulphate inhibited lysis, whereas hyaluronic acid enhanced it. Chondroitin sulphates A and C had no effect. Incubation of S. aureus suspended in 0.03 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) with dextran sulphate inhibited autolysis of the bacteria, whereas incubation with hyaluronic acid enhanced autolysis. Both extracellular and cell-associated autolysin activities of S. aureus were suppressed by dextran sulphate and high concentrations of heparin. The addition of hyaluronic acid enhanced autolysin activity. The release of lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a modulator of autolysin activity, from penicillin-treated bacteria was inhibited by heparin and dextran sulphate. However, hyaluronic acid had no effect on release of LTA. These results suggest that inhibition of penicillin-induced lysis of S. aureus by heparin results mainly from inhibition of LTA release while dextran sulphate inhibits both autolysin activity and LTA release. Hyaluronic acid appears to enhance penicillin-induced lysis through activation of the autolysins.
mesh_terms: D001433:Bacteriolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008934:Mitogens; D013682:Teichoic Acids; C009900:lipoteichoic acid; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D006493:Heparin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D010400:Penicillin G