Permeability of Serratia Marcescens to Some Inorganic Salts

Abstract

The physical interactions between Serratia marcescens and solutions of NaCl, CaCl2, CaI2, NaI, and (Na2HPO4 + NaH2PO4) were examined. Dilute (0.017 N) salt solutions did not cause cells to lose water, as evidenced by the unchanged weight of centrifugally packed cells. The cells preferentially adsorbed the cations and repelled the anions of most salts in these solutions. Concentrated (1.71 N) salt solutions markedly reduced the weight and water content of centrifugally packed cells, although these took up considerable amounts of salts. More than 90% of the water in the packed-cell pellets was available for the solution of NaCl at 4.2 to 4.4% concentration. The observation that salts apparently penetrated the entire cells freely and yet caused extensive dehydration was not readily compatible with conventional concepts of solute-induced plasmolysis.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1968
Accession Number
AD0844169

Entities

People

  • Leonard Zimmerman

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bacteria
  • Biological Sciences
  • Cell Membrane
  • Cells
  • Cellular Structures
  • Dehydration
  • Dilution
  • Environment
  • Escherichia Coli
  • Fungi
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria
  • Materials
  • Membranes
  • Microorganisms
  • Observation
  • Permeability
  • Rigidity

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry
  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Geochemistry
  • Materials Science and Engineering.