Notes- The Preparation of C14-Labeled Spermine and C14-Labeled Spermidine

STABILIZATION OF PROTOPLASTS AND SPHEROPLASTS BY SPERMINE AND OTHER POLYAMINES

Tabor, Celia W. (National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Bethesda, Md.). Stabilization of protoplasts and spheroplasts by spermine and other polyamines. J. Bacteriol. 83:1101-1111. 1962.-Spermine (10(-3)m) or spermidine prevents lysis of lysozyme-produced protoplasts of Escherichia coli W, E. coli B, and Micrococcus lysodeikticus in hypotonic media. Spheroplasts prepared by the action of penicillin are also stabilized by these concentrations of spermine and spermidine, but the protection is not as complete. Streptomycin, polylysine, and Ca(++) are also effective or partially effective stabilizers, but 1,4-diaminobutane, 1,5-diaminopentane, ornithine, Mg(++), and monovalent cations have no protective action at 10(-3)m concentration, and only a slight effect at higher concentrations. The osmotic stability conferred on protoplasts by spermine is irreversible. However, the protective effect of polyamines against lysis is not accompanied by restoration of viability to lysozyme protoplasts. There is a marked reduction in the loss of ultra-violet-absorbing material from the protoplasts to the medium when 10(-3)m spermine is present.

METABOLISM OF POLYAMINES BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS

Rosenthal, Sanford M. (National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Bethesda, Md.) and Donald T. Dubin . Metabolism of polyamines by Staphylococcus . J. Bacteriol. 84: 859–863. 1962—Although spermine and spermidine are not detectable in staphylococci grown in purified medium, considerable amounts (0.7 to 1.4 μmole/g wet wt) were demonstrated in cells grown in the presence of these amines. Conjugation of spermine, and to a lesser extent of spermidine, was demonstrated. Putrescine and cadaverine added to purified medium are not appreciably taken up by staphylococcal cells. However, high percentages were recovered in the medium in conjugated form. These conjugates were shown to be monoacetylputrescine and probably monoacetylcadaverine. Meat infusion broth, neopeptone, spermine, and spermidine were highly inhibitory to this acetylation. No evidence of utilization of these polyamines was obtained.