Cellular lysis of Streptococcus faecalis induced with triton X-100

Abstract

Lysis of exponential-phase cultures of S. faecalis ATCC 9790 was induced by exposure to both anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and nonionic (Triton X-100) surfactants. Lysis in response to sodium dodecyl sulfate was effective only over a limited range of concentrations, but Triton X-100-induced lysis occurred over a borad range of surfactant concentrations. Apparently the bacteriolytic response of growing cells to Triton X-100 was related to the ratio of surfactant to cells and not the surfactant concentration per se, required the expression of the cellular autolytic enzyme system and was most likely due to an effect of the surfactant on components of the autolytic system that are associated with the cytoplasmic membrane. The possibility that Triton X-100 may induce cellular lysis by releasing a lipid inhibitor of the cellular autolytic enzyme is discussed.