[Clofoctol binding by the bacteria (author's transl)]

Abstract

Clofoctol is an antibacterial agent which is active only on Gram + bacteria. The clofoctol binding on bacteria is fast and the number of molecules bound is about 10(6) to 1,5 10(7) molecules per bacteria. Bacteria sensitivity towards clofoctol is the result of their ability to bind with it. Gram negative and Gram + protoplasts of bacteria bind the clofoctol. Binding of clofoctol by B. subtilis is obtained with viable cells and also with thermal inactivated cells. Binding of clofoctol by the cells is reversible and we showed that the 14C clofoctol used for the experiments and the unlabelled clofoctol have the same behaviour. ions as K+, Mg++, Ca++, Mn++, and Fe++, pH variation between 2 to 9, and urea have no influence on the binding of clofoctol by the bacteria, but, sodium lauryl sulfate is an inhibitor of the binding. These results mean that clofoctol bounds are made by hydrophobic links.