Characterization of carotenoid from Staphylococcus aureus and its physiological role

Although carotenoid is one of the typical pigments in Staphylococcus aureus, its properties and physiological role have not been well characterized. This paper examined carotenoid of S. aureus in regard to (1) factors affecting its production. (2) chemical properties and (3) its effect on liposomal permeability. (1) Carotenoid content increased during the late logarithmic growth phase. Production was potently accelerated by the addition of 10% NaCl (10 fold), 2% glycerin (10 fold) and 1% glycerolmonoacetate (250 fold). Oxygen was necessary but visible light did not effect the production. (2) The major component of carotenoid was C(30)Diaponeurosporenoic acid methyl ester. Minor components were Diaponeurosporene, Diapo-∫-carotene, Diapolycopenoic acid methyl ester, Diaponeurosporene ester and a hydroxyl derivative of Diaponeurosporene. Staphylococcal carotenoids were all C(30). (3) The addition of carotenoid to liposomes (made of staphylococcal phospholipids) increased the permeability for glycerol and glucose. This indicates that production of carotenoid may be an adaptational response of the bacteria

CONTRIBUTION OF CELL SURFACE TO SALT TOLERANCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS -STUDIES BY FREEZE-ETCHING METHOD-

The role of cell surface in a haloresistant mechanism of S. aureus was analyzed by free-ze-etching method. Our comparative studies were carried out on S. aureus cultivated in 0.5% NaCl containing medium (Normal-Staph) and in 10% NaCl containing medium (10% -Staph), as they were or were treated with L-11 enzyme (cell wall lytic enzyme obtained from Flabobacterium sp.). 1. As shown in photographs of non-treated and enzyme-treated cells, both the cell size and cell wall thickness of 10% -Staph increased to about 1.5 times Normal-Staph. 2. When Normal-Staph was exposed to L-11 enzyme, there occurred a gradual decrease in the OD. In the case of 10% -Staph, the OD showed a down-slope with a shoulder which rose in OD once at about 10 minutes after incubation. 3. The surface pattern of plasma membrane of Normal-Staph appeared to be made up of closely arranged spherical subunits. But in the case of 10% -Staph, the spherical subunits were indistinct and appeared to be sparsely located

Lymphocyte blastogenesis in normal and low birth weight infants and the effect of monocyte depletion on it

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