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Abstract
Isolated cell walls of six Gram-negative bacteria were disaggregated by sodium dodecyl sulphate at all pH values between pH 2 and 9. Disaggregation as measured by decrease in turbidity showed maxima at pH 3 and 8. Salmonella gallinarum walls were disaggregated by alcohol sulphate compounds with alkyl chain lengths of 10, 12, 14 and 16 carbon atoms; maximum activity was observed with the C14 homologue. No sulphydryl groups were detected on disaggregation of the walls of S. gallinarum and p-chloromercuribenzoate had no protective action. Autolytic enzymes of Vibrio metchnikovii do not contribute to the dissolution of the walls of this organism by sodium dodecyl sulphate.
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© Society for General Microbiology, 1977