Lysozyme Lysis of Gram-Negative Bacteria without Production of Spheroplasts

Abstract

Cells of gram-negative bacteria undergo lysis when treated with lysozyme in the presence of ethylenediaminetetra-acetic-acid (EDTA) and tris buffer, as shown by Repaske. However, contrary to the prevalent assumption, lysis is not necessarily preceded by formation of a spheroplast as the cell wall is damaged. Treatment of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with the lytic system was shown to cause the formation of osmotically fragile rods, rather than spheres. The extent of destruction of the cell walls of gram-negative bacteria by lysozyme in this system is, at least in some cases, less than has been generally supposed.