Glycine and its N-methylated analogues cause pH-dependent membrane damage to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

The current study first investigates the emulsifying potential of glycine and its N -methylated derivatives N -methylglycine (sarcosine), N,N -dimethylglycine (DMG) and N,N,N -trimethylglycine (betaine) under varying pH conditions. Subsequently, the effect of these test compounds on the membrane int...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Amino acids 2012-07, Vol.43 (1), p.245-253
Main Authors: Vanhauteghem, D., Janssens, G. P. J., Lauwaerts, A., Sys, S., Boyen, F., Kalmar, I. D., Meyer, E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analytical Chemistry
Betaine - pharmacology
Biochemical Engineering
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cell Membrane - drug effects
Cell Membrane - physiology
Emulsifying Agents - pharmacology
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli - drug effects
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli - growth & development
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli - physiology
Escherichia coli
Glycine - pharmacology
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Life Sciences
N-substituted Glycines - pharmacology
Neurobiology
Original Article
Proteomics
Sarcosine - analogs & derivatives
Sarcosine - pharmacology
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Summary:The current study first investigates the emulsifying potential of glycine and its N -methylated derivatives N -methylglycine (sarcosine), N,N -dimethylglycine (DMG) and N,N,N -trimethylglycine (betaine) under varying pH conditions. Subsequently, the effect of these test compounds on the membrane integrity of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) was evaluated. Oil in water emulsions containing each compound show that DMG is a more potent enhancer of emulsification than glycine, sarcosine and betaine under the conditions tested. Flow cytometry was used to investigate whether the emulsifying potential is associated with an effect on ETEC membrane integrity. The bacteria were exposed to each of the test compounds under varying pH conditions and membrane integrity was assessed using the LIVE/DEAD BacLight kit. Results show a membrane deteriorating effect caused by glycine, sarcosine and DMG, but not by betaine. This effect is pH- and time-dependent and has an apparent threshold at pH 9.0. Conventional plate counts confirmed concomitant changes in culturability of the membrane comprised bacteria.
ISSN:0939-4451
1438-2199
DOI:10.1007/s00726-011-1068-y