Peptide transport in Staphylococcus aureus.

Using the agar diffusion test of Zähner et al. (1960), it was demonstrated that bacilysin and a variety of di- and tri-L-peptides compete with each other for uptake into Staphylococcus aureus. Several di- and tripeptides containing L-phenylalanine produced transient growth inhibition of S. aureus NCTC 6571, but not of bacilysin-resistant mutants. The results confirm that the major peptide transport system in S. aureus recognizes both di- and tripeptides as substrates.