Changes in Permeability and Ultrastructure of Starved Streptococcus Lactis in Relation to Survival

Abstract

SUMMARY: When Streptococcus lactis was starved in phosphate buffer the intracellular amino acid pool was rapidly released into the external medium from the onset of starvation whereas lactic dehydrogenase and DNA appeared in the suspending buffer only as organisms began to lose viability. Addition of spermine enhanced survival and suppressed the release of ultraviolet-absorbing material.