On the role of bacitracin peptides in trace metal transport by Bacillus licheniformis.

Bacitracin markedly increased the toxic effect of several divalent metal ions towards growth of the producer strain Bacillus licheniformis ATCCI4580. Magnesium ions antagonized the toxic effect of these divalent cations both in the presence and absence of bacitracin. It is suggested that bacitracin increases the uptake of several divalent metal ions. The function of the bacitracin peptides may be to extract essential divalent cations from 'waiting sites' on the surface of the cells and transfer the cations to the transport mechanisms in the cytoplasmic membrane.