Effects of halocin H6 on the morphology of sensitive cells

Abstract

The halobacteria, extremely halophilic archaebacteria, produce bacteriocins that are globally termed halocins. In the present work we have studied the effect of halocin H6 on the morphology of sensitive cells. Halocin H6 produced deformation and lysis of sensitive cells, leaving empty "ghosts" in which the cell envelopes seemed to be intact. With massive doses of halocin, the effect was much more rapid and produced the same result. Halocin H6 also induced lysis of stable spheroplasts, and therefore the target could be located at the membrane level.Key words: bacteriocin, halocin, halobacteria.