Ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N ',N '-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli at alkaline pH

Authors
Arakawa, Y Saito, T Saito, H Kakegawa, T Kobayashi, H
Citation
Y. Arakawa et al., Ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N ',N '-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli at alkaline pH, J GEN A MIC, 46(3), 2000, pp. 127-131
Citations number
12
Categorie Soggetti
Microbiology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF GENERAL AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
ISSN journal
00221260 → ACNP
Volume
46
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
127 - 131
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-1260(200006)46:3<127:EGBE''>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
The growth of Escherichia coli was inhibited by ethylene glycol bis(beta-am inoethyl ether)N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) in a medium of initial pH 8.8. The growth inhibition was reversed by the addition of CaCl2. E. coli c ould grow in the presence of EGTA at pH values below 8. The concentration o f free calcium ions increases with a decrease in medium pH because of a dec rease in the calcium binding capacity of EGTA. So, although the results sug gest that calcium ions are essential for the growth of E. coli, the minimum concentration required is very low.