Accession Number:

AD0835126

Title:

MECHANISM OF SYNTHESIS OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL ALPHA TOXIN

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

FORT DETRICK FREDERICK MD

Personal Author(s):

• Hendricks, Charles W.
• Altenbern, Robert A.

Report Date:

1968-04-01

Pagination or Media Count:

16.0

Abstract:

Several strains of Staphylococcal aureus were induced with mitomycin C, a radiomimetic drug, and the results rule out a general explanation for alpha toxin synthesis based upon various aspects of lysogeny. Data are also presented showing that toxin is generated intracellularly and is continually released into the medium. Small alkaline changes in pH by the metabolizing culture, not affecting growth, are sufficient to stop or greatly inhibit toxin synthesis. In an actively growing culture, this phenomenon appears as a sharp rise in intracellular toxin synthesis, followed by a peak and then decline, even though the culture continues to grow and increase in optical density. Because the toxin molecule is stable at normal cultural pH values, an alkaline pH may interfere with toxin synthesis at the intracellular level.

Descriptors:

• *TOXINS AND ANTITOXINS
• *STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS
• STABILITY
• BIOSYNTHESIS
• CULTURE MEDIA
• ANTIMETABOLITES
• HEMOLYSIS
• GROWTH(PHYSIOLOGY)
• PH FACTOR

Subject Categories:

• Microbiology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE