Transport capacity, alkaline phosphatase activity and protein content of glutaraldehyde-treated cell forms of Escherichia coli.

Studies on the comparative transport capacity of various cell forms of Escherichia coli suggest that glutaraldehyde acts only in the outer regions of the cell envelope and to such an extent that transport of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid is reduced by 50%. Alkaline phosphatase activity in whole cells was severely impaired in the presence of alkaline glutaraldehyde and in NaCl-washed cells both acid and alkaline glutaraldehyde (0.01%) caused approximately 80-90% reduction in enzyme activity in 10 min. Protein content was reduced by only 10-15% with this concentration of glutaraldehyde, and cell volume decreased by the same extent. These results are discussed in terms of the mode of action of the disinfectant.