Mode of action of a bacteriocin from Erwinia carotovora I. Properties of lysis of cells infected with carotovoricine Er.

Abstract

When exponentially growing cells of E. carotovora 645Ar, a sensitive strain to carotovoricin Er, were exposed to carotovoricin Er, turbidity of the culture decreased depending on the amount of bacteriocin added. Lysis by the bacteriocin infection occurred when the sensitive cells were treated with the bacteriocin in buffers containing phosphate, EDTA, or arsenate, but did not occur in a buffer containing Mg2+. Mg2+ did not rescue the sensitive cells from lethal action of the bacteriocin. The lysis caused by the bacteriocin depended on temperature, and the cells fixed with formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde did not lyse, suggesting that the lysis of carotovoricin-infected cells was caused by some lytic enzyme(s) of the sensitive cells rather than that of the bacteriocin itself.