Effects of sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations of EDTA on growth of Escherichia coli and the release of lipopolysaccharide |
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Authors: | Christophe Pelletier Pierre Bourlioux Jean van Heijenoort |
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Institution: | Département de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Facultéde Pharmacie, 92296, Châtenay-Malabry, France; Unitéde Recherche Associée du CNRS 1131, Biochimie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UniversitéParis-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France |
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Abstract: | Abstract Release of lipopolysaccharide from E. coli was studied in the presence of sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). In untreated cells no release was detected with 50 mM Mg2+ in the medium, but a steady release of over 50% of the synthesized lipopolysaccharide was observed with 0.1 mM Mg2+. EDTA at MIC/8 led to a 2- to 3-fold higher release, presumably by an adjustment of the concentration of unchelated Mg2+ to a value still sustaining normal growth but giving rise to a highly unstable outer membrane. No structural difference was observed between cell-bound and released lipopolysaccharide. |
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Keywords: | EDTA LPS Escherichia coli Magnesium ion |
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