Reactivity of Ionic Detergents with Micrococcus Lysodeikticus

WEIBULL has observed that the cell wall of Bacillus megaterium can be removed by the action of lysozyme which, under specified conditions, leaves the bacteria otherwise intact 1 . The protoplasts thus liberated have already been the subject of several investigations 2–4 and form a convenient system for directly investigating the effects of detergents upon the exposed plasma membrane. In this communication the action of a series of ionic detergents, each possessing the C 12 n alkyl chain, upon Micrococcus lysodeikticus and its protoplasts is reported. The protoplasts of this organism are stabilized in 1 M sucrose 5 .