[Membrane potential in Escherichia coli bacteria subjected to the action of low temperature freezing and blood serum complement].

The action of a blood serum complement on Escherichia coli cells or their freezing does not cause cell destruction visible in the electron microscope, but the permeability barrier is disordered and exogenous substrates can penetrate into the cell. When these exogenous respiration substrates are oxidised, the energy-dependent uptake of phenyl dicarboundecarborane (PCB-), a lipophilic anion and an indicator of the membrane potential, is observed. Apparently, the uptake of PCB- is associated with the generation of local membrane potentials when the permeability barrier of cells is damaged.