The Effect of Cyanogen Iodide and Mercuric Chloride on the Permeability of Cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the Antagonistic Action of Sulfhydryl Compounds

Summary

ICN reacts irreversibly with sulfhydryl groups in cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Addition of sulfhydryl compounds to cells treated with ICN for different times indicates that approximately 40% of the reactive -SH groups in the cell react in 10 sec at 23°. Equimolar HgCl₂ produces the same increase in swelling as ICN. The mercury effect is reversible by compounds which can penetrate the membrane but not by those that do not. Both ICN and HgCl₂ as well as p-hydroxymercuribenzoate increase swelling rate to a greater extent when chloride is the anion than when phosphates and sulfate are.