On the Role of Bacitracin Peptides in Trace Metal Transport by Bacillus licheniformis

Abstract

Bacitracin markedly increased the toxic effect of several divalent metal ions towards growth of the producer strain B. licheniformis ATCC14580. Mg2+ antagonized the toxic effect of these divalent cations in the presence and absence of bacitracin. Bacitracin probably increases the uptake of several divalent metal ions. The function of the bacitracin peptides may be to extract essential divalent cations from waiting sites on the surface of the cells and transfer the cations to the transport mechanisms in the cytoplasmic membrane.