The Action of Phenol and 2-Phenoxyethanol on the Oxidation of Various Substances by Escherichia coli and by a Disrupted Cell Preparation of the Organism

Abstract

The effects of phenol and 2-phenoxyethanol on the oxygen uptake of washed suspensions and a disrupted cell preparation of Escherichia coli, with different substrates, has been further investigated. Stimulation of oxygen uptake with mannitol or glucose as substrate was not due to an increase in the viable population or associated with an uncoupling effect. The results obtained with a disrupted cell preparation capable of oxidizing glucose and lactic acid to pyruvic acid, on comparison with results with intact organisms, suggest that enzyme location may account for the differences in inhibitory activity obtained with different substrates.