FACTORS AFFECTING SUSCEPTIBILITY OF STAPHYLOCOCCI TO KILLING BY CATIONIC PROTEINS FROM RABBIT POLYMORPHO-NUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES - EFFECTS OF ALTERATION OF CELLULAR ENERGETICS AND OF VARIOUS IRON COMPOUNDS

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  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (5) , 560-570
Abstract
Anaerobiosis, various respiratory inhibitors and certain agents altering cellular energetics profoundly affect the staphylocidal action of the cationic proteins from rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Sensitivity to these proteins depends on the structure of the cell membrane as influenced by the oxidation level of the cytochrome chain and its energized state. Agents such as amytal and rotenone, which cause a block at the beginning of the chain and increase its oxidation level, enhance killing; those causing a block in or at the end of the chain, i.e., 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, cyanide and anaerobiosis, which cause reduction of a part or whole of the chain, prevent killing. Among agents altering the energized state of the membrane, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, an ATPase inhibitor, does not prevent killing; 2,4-dinitrophenol, carbonylcyanide-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone and 5-chloro-3-tert-butyl-2''-chloro-4''-nitrosalicylanilide, all uncouplers and ionophores for a specific ion, do prevent killing, although gramicidin, a relatively nonspecific ionophore, does not. Previous work on the effect of Fe and hematin is extended to include various other Fe compounds and hematin derivatives.