PRODUCTION OF A PERMEABILITY DEFECT INESCHERICHIA COLIBY THE MUTAGENIC ALKYLATING AGENT, ETHYL SULFATE

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Abstract
Cells of E. coli, treated with the alkylating agent, ethyl sulfate, die off more rapidly after treatment when incubated in citrate buffer than do untreated cells or treated cells incubated in saline or phosphate. Cell death is accompanied by an excretion of UV-absorbing material into the medium and by a decrease in the intracellular nucleic acid. Both killing and excretion are prevented by addition of mg ion to the incubation medium. This effect of ethyl sulfate is independent of its mutagenic action and is mimicked by an osmotic shock.