THE ACTION OF CATIONIC DETERGENTS ON BACTERIA AND BACTERIAL ENZYMES

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Abstract
The inhibition of glucose oxidation and glycolysis in Escherichia coli by 5 quaternary ammonium detergents parallels the % of bacteria killed. Other reactions, such as that of arginine decarboxylase and catalase, are not inhibited by lethal concns. of the detergents. The inhibitory and bactericidal actions are proportional to the detergent-bacteria mass ratio, and not to the detergent concn. The presence of certain enzymes in E. coli which are specifically inhibited by these detergents is demonstrated to account for these results. One such enzyme, lactic acid oxidase, is described. It does not require addition of coenzyme I, and reacts directly with oxygen. In cell-free form this enzyme is inhibited by the same amts. of detergent as are inhibitory and lethal for the intact cell. Such specific inhibition of essential enzymes by the detergents can account for the observed metabolic inhibition, disruption of permeability and death of the cell.

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