The Assimilation of Amino-acids by Bacteria: 2. The Action of Tyrocidin and some Detergent Substances in Releasing Amino-acids from the Internal Environment of Streptococcus faecalis

SUMMARY: Treatment of Streptococcus faecalis cells containing high internal concentrations of lysine and glutamic acid with tyrocidin, Aerosol O.T., cetyltrimethylammonium bromide or phenol resulted in loss of the internal amino-acids. The substances used affected the cell wall so that the internal amino-acids leaked into the external environment; the rate of leakage was followed by a manometric method. The lytic action of tyrocidin, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, Aerosol O.T., and phenol is sufficient to explain the disinfecting action of these substances.