title: Effect of lysozyme on enterococcal viability in low ionic environments.
abstract: The action of lysozyme on the enterococcal cell differed markedly as a function of the ionic strength of the environment. In high ionic environments (I approximately 0.3), the traditionally slow lytic response and decrease in viability were noted. In a low ionic environment the majority of the cell wall was hydrolyzed, but cellular integrity was preserved and almost all cellular protein, deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid remained with the lysozyme-cell complex. However, under these conditions, lysozyme inactivated energy-yielding metabolism, and a rapid extensive loss of viability was observed. Some other basic compounds without lytic activity on the cell wall also effected a substantial reduction in viability. The data suggest that lysozyme acts on the cell membrane to effect disruption of cellular metabolism.
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001433:Bacteriolysis; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000254:growth & development; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008242:Lysogeny; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009113:Muramidase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D009996:Osmotic Fragility; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D014316:Tritium; D009113:Muramidase