Membrane Perturbation by Cerulenin Modulates Glucosyltransferase Secretion and Acetate Uptake by Streptococcus salivarius

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Abstract
Cerulenin and dodecanoic acid prevented the synthesis and secretion of glucosyltransferase in non-proliferating cell suspensions of S. salivarius ATCC 25975 under conditions that also inhibited the incorporation of radioactively labeled acetate into the cell. In the presence of Tween 80, acetate incorporation was not markedly affected by cerulenin although glucosyltransferase secretion was still inhibited. Cerulenin and dodecanoic acid prevented the incorporation of radioactively labeled acetate by affecting acetate uptake by the cell. Cerulenin inhibition of acetate uptake was partially relieved by Tween 80. Evidently, cerulenin inhibited glucosyltransferase secretion and acetate incorporation by perturbing the membrane, rather than by directly inhibiting lipid synthesis.