ON THE MECHANISM OF SONIC LYSIS OF BACTERIA

Abstract

Bacterial suspensions (Escherichia coli, Azotobacter vinelandii) do not lyse under sonic vibrations when suspended in medium of low ionic strength or at low pH. After sonic treatment, lysis can be brought about by adding neutral buffer. Sonic vibrations are shown to cause structural damage to the cell but no leakage of intracellular material occurs under the conditions described. The nature of the lytic process following vibration is discussed in terms of enzymatic lysis or of solation of the cytoplasm.