Mechanism of the Inhibitory Action of Linoleic Acid on the Growth of Staphylococcus aureus

• Published in: Journal of general microbiology Vol. 115; no. 1; pp. 233 - 245
• Main Authors: GREENWAY, D. L. A, DYKE, K. G. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Soc General Microbiol 01.11.1979
• Subjects: Bacterial Proteins - biosynthesis; Cell Membrane Permeability - drug effects; DNA, Bacterial - biosynthesis; Linoleic Acids - metabolism; Linoleic Acids - pharmacology; Oxygen Consumption - drug effects; RNA, Bacterial - biosynthesis; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus - growth & development; Staphylococcus aureus - metabolism; Stearic Acids - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0022-1287
• DOI: 10.1099/00221287-115-1-233

Microbiology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU ABSTRACT Summary: Linoleic acid, but not stearic acid, inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 8325. Growth inhibition was associated with an increase in the permeability of the bacterial membrane. The presence of a plasmid conferring resistance to penicillin (PC plasmid, e.g. pI 258 bla I – ) increased the growth inhibitory and membrane permeability effects of linoleic acid. Under growth inhibitory conditions, linoleic acid was incorporated into the lipid of both PC plasmid-containing and PC plasmid-negative bacteria and there was little difference between these cultures in the uptake or fate of linoleic acid. Experiments using a glycerol auxotroph of S. aureus suggested that free linoleic acid, rather than lipid containing this acid, inhibits growth. Linoleic acid probably inhibits growth by increasing the permeability of the bacterial membrane as a result of its surfactant action, and the presence of the PC plasmid increases these effects. * Present address: Department of Biological Chemistry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63110, U.S.A.