Permeability of the E. coli cell membrane for thiourea, dimethylsulfoxide and glycerol

Permeability of cell envelope of Escherichia coli was investigated by the method of osmotic shock for thiourea, dimethylsulfoxide and glycerol. Characteristic times were obtained for passive permeation of these reagents. Variation of r in consequence dimethylsulfoxide less than thiourea less than glycerol was determined. The dependence of tau on the concentration of permeant reagents was observed and it was found that tau was decreased with increasing concentration of the permeant solute which was connected with the modification of the cytoplasmic membrane.