Lysis of Bacterial Protoplasts and Spheroplasts by Staphylococcal α-Toxin and Streptolysin S

Abstract

Bernheimer, Alan W. (New York University School of Medicine, New York, N.Y.), and Lois L. Schwartz . Lysis of bacterial protoplasts and spheroplasts by staphylococcal α-toxin and streptolysin S. J. Bacteriol. 89: 1387–1392. 1965.—Protoplasts of Bacillus megaterium, Sarcina lutea , and Streptococcus pyogenes , and spheroplasts of Escherichia coli were lysed by staphylococcal α-toxin, whereas spheroplasts of Vibrio metschnikovii and V. comma were not. In the spectrum of its lytic action, streptolysin S qualitatively resembled staphylococcal α-toxin except for failure to lyse S. pyogenes protoplasts. In contrast to the two foregoing agents, streptolysin O did not lyse protoplasts and spheroplasts. The observations are interpreted in relation to similarities and differences in lipid composition of bacterial and mammalian cell membranes.