Effect of ethanol perturbation on viscosity and permeability of an inner membrane in Bacillus subtilis spores.
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Accepted version
Author(s)
Loison, P
Gervais, P
Perrier-Cornet, JM
Kuimova, MK
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In this work, we investigated how a combination of ethanol and high temperature (70°C), affect the properties of the inner membrane of Bacillus subtilis spores. We observed membrane permeabilization for ethanol concentrations ≥50%, as indicated by the staining of the spores' DNA by the cell impermeable dye Propidium Iodide. The loss of membrane integrity was also confirmed by a decrease in the peak corresponding to dipicolinic acid using infrared spectroscopy. Finally, the spore refractivity (as measured by phase contrast microscopy) was decreased after the ethanol-heat treatment, suggesting a partial rehydration of the protoplast. Previously we have used fluorescent lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) combined with the fluorescent molecular rotor Bodipy-C12 to study the microscopic viscosity in the inner membrane of B. subtilis spores, and showed that at normal conditions it is characterized by a very high viscosity. Here we demonstrate that the ethanol/high temperature treatment led to a decrease of the viscosity of the inner membrane, from 1000cP to 860cP for wild type spores at 50% of ethanol. Altogether, our present work confirms the deleterious effect of ethanol on the structure of B. subtilis spores, as well as demonstrates the ability of FLIM - Bodipy-C12 to measure changes in the microviscosity of the spores upon perturbation.
Date Issued
2016-06-03
Date Acceptance
2016-06-02
Citation
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 2016, 1858 (9), pp.2060-2069
ISSN
0006-3002
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
2060
End Page
2069
Journal / Book Title
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta
Volume
1858
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
© 2016, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
PII: S0005-2736(16)30211-5
Grant Number
EP/I003983/1
Subjects
Bacillus subtilis spores
Ethanol perturbation
Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM)
Inner membrane
Microviscosity decrease
Permeabilization
Publication Status
Published