Normal serum cytotoxicity for P32-labeled smooth Enterobacteriaceae. II. Fate of macromolecular and lipid phosphorus of damaged cells.

Spitznagel, John K. (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill). Normal serum cytotoxicity for P(32)-labeled smooth Enterobacteriaceae. II. Fate of macromolecular and lipid phosphorus of damaged cells. J. Bacteriol. 91:148-152. 1966.-Fresh, normal adult guinea pig serum released micro- and macromolecular forms of metabolically incorporated P(32) from smooth Escherichia coli. A significant amount of P(32)-labeled phospholipid was also released. The overall acid solubility distribution of the P(32) label in bacterial suspensions was very little affected in fresh serum, although P(32)-labeled cytoplasmic contents and cell walls of E. coli lost some P(32) when they were suspended in fresh or heat-inactivated normal serum. These findings confirmed and extended earlier evidence that the peripheral wall and membrane structures of smooth E. coli are extensively damaged by factors in fresh normal serum.