Biomaterial Database

[Structural and functional analysis of the effect of cationic surfactants on Escherichia cells and spheroplasts]. 1983

M A Cherniavskaia, and I B Pavlova

The character of the growth of Escherichia culture after treatment with alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride (a cation surface-active substance) has been studied. The action of the preparation at bacteriostatic concentrations is reversible and manifested only by the increased duration of the lag phase. The complete restoration of the processes ensuring the growth and mitosis of the cells usually occurs. The preparation causes disturbances in the permeability barrier of the cell membranes, appearing immediately on contact with cation surface-active substances. This compound affects the cytoplasmic membranes of Escherichia cells at extremely low concentrations (0.0001-0.0002%); as a result, the leakage of low-molecular substances from the cells occurs. These disturbances in permeability are not accompanied by the disappearance of nucleic acids from the cells. The preparation used at bactericidal and subbactericidal concentrations denatures high-molecular cell components to a variable degree. The study of the ultrastructure of cells and spheroblasts shows that alkyl dimethyl-benzyl ammonium chloride destroys the structure of the outer and cytoplasmic membranes, as well as the ribosomal apparatus of Escherichia cells.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D002463	Cell Membrane Permeability	A quality of cell membranes which permits the passage of solvents and solutes into and out of cells.	Permeability, Cell Membrane
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D000251	Adenosine Triphosphatases	A group of enzymes which catalyze the hydrolysis of ATP. The hydrolysis reaction is usually coupled with another function such as transporting Ca(2+) across a membrane. These enzymes may be dependent on Ca(2+), Mg(2+), anions, H+, or DNA.	ATPases,Adenosinetriphosphatase,ATPase,ATPase, DNA-Dependent,Adenosine Triphosphatase,DNA-Dependent ATPase,DNA-Dependent Adenosinetriphosphatases,ATPase, DNA Dependent,Adenosinetriphosphatases, DNA-Dependent,DNA Dependent ATPase,DNA Dependent Adenosinetriphosphatases,Triphosphatase, Adenosine
D000644	Quaternary Ammonium Compounds	Derivatives of ammonium compounds, NH4+ Y-, in which all four of the hydrogens bonded to nitrogen have been replaced with hydrocarbyl groups. These are distinguished from IMINES which are RN	Quaternary Ammonium Compound,Ammonium Compound, Quaternary,Ammonium Compounds, Quaternary,Compound, Quaternary Ammonium
D013104	Spheroplasts	Cells, usually bacteria or yeast, which have partially lost their cell wall, lost their characteristic shape and become round.	Spheroplast
D013501	Surface-Active Agents	Agents that modify interfacial tension of water; usually substances that have one lipophilic and one hydrophilic group in the molecule; includes soaps, detergents, emulsifiers, dispersing and wetting agents, and several groups of antiseptics.	Surface Active Agent,Surface-Active Agent,Surfactant,Surfactants,Tenside,Amphiphilic Agents,Surface Active Agents,Tensides,Active Agent, Surface,Active Agents, Surface,Agent, Surface Active,Agent, Surface-Active,Agents, Amphiphilic,Agents, Surface Active,Agents, Surface-Active