FACTORS AFFECTING THE VIABILITY OF AIR-BORNE BACTERIA: VI. THE ACTION OF INOSITOL ON LACTOSE OXIDATION BY DESICCATED ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract

The effect of desiccation on the ability of Escherichia coli to oxidize lactose has been studied. The enzyme system responsible for lactose oxidation is adaptive in E. coli, and amino acids are required for its synthesis. Of the amino acids required, glutamic and aspartic acids proved to be the most active in stimulating the synthesis of the enzymes. The cells of E. coli lose their ability to oxidize lactose on desiccation but if drying is carried out in the presence of i-inositol this loss is prevented. The findings add support to the hypothesis that the death of a cell on desiccation results from the destruction of a component concerned in protein synthesis.