Effects of sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations of EDTA on growth of Escherichia coli and the release of lipopolysaccharide.

Release of lipopolysaccharide from E. coli was studied in the presence of sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). In untreated cells no release was detected with 50 mM Mg2+ in the medium, but a steady release of over 50% of the synthesized lipopolysaccharide was observed with 0.1 mM Mg2+. EDTA at MIC/8 led to a 2- to 3-fold higher release, presumably by an adjustment of the concentration of unchelated Mg2+ to a value still sustaining normal growth but giving rise to a highly unstable outer membrane. No structural difference was observed between cell-bound and released lipopolysaccharide.