Bactericidal effect of ADP and acetic acid on Bacillus subtilis.
Bacillus subtilis is a ubiquitous soil bacterium used for measuring the beta-lysin activity and in other bioassays. We observed a complete bactericidal effect of ADP on B. subtilis at concentrations of 50-100 microM at pH values <5.5, which disappeared at pH values above 6. The effect was also found for acetic acid at concentrations >17.4 microM and similar pH values. ATP, adenosine, and HCl were not bactericidal. We used BCECF-AM, a pH-sensitive probe, and found that the killing of B. subtilis was due to a change in the intracellular pH caused by the passage across the cell membrane of these weak organic acids when incubated with B. subtilis at pH values near the pK. More experiments are needed to determine the biological meaning of these in vitro findings.
Asensi
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V
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Covadonga Hospital, Oviedo University Medical School, Calle Celestino Villamil s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
Parra
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Fierer
J
J
Valle
E
E
Bordallo
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C
Rendueles
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Gascón
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Carton
J A
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Maradona
J A
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Arribas
J M
JM
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000241:Adenosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009994:Osmolar Concentration
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000241:Adenosine; D019342:Acetic Acid; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid