title: Depolarization of the membrane potential by beta-lactams as a signal to induce autolysis.
abstract: The effect of beta-lactam antibiotics that are known to inhibit cell wall biosynthesis and induce cell wall autolysis on the electrophysiological state of the plasma membrane in Streptomyces griseus was studied. Addition of various beta-lactam antibiotics induced a dose- and growth-stage-dependent depolarization of the membrane potential of Streptomyces griseus. The hydrolyzed biologically inactive derivative penicilloic acid had no depolarizing effect on the membrane potential. The ionophore gramicidin D, while depolarizing the membrane potential, also induced a dose-dependent increase in cell wall lysis. These observations suggest that alteration of the transmembrane potential could be an important signal in triggering cell wall autolysis of S. griseus.
authors.affiliation: University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Science Center, Debrecen, H-4012, Hungary. penyige@jaguar.dote.hu
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Penyige
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matkó
authors.forename: Eleonóra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Deák
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bodnár
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barabás
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001329:Autolysis; D002232:Carbocyanines; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000494:pharmacology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006096:Gramicidin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D013305:Streptomyces griseus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002232:Carbocyanines; D004396:Coloring Agents; D007476:Ionophores; D006096:Gramicidin; C007392:3,3'-dihexyl-2,2'-oxacarbocyanine; D002439:Cefotaxime; D010400:Penicillin G