Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Cell Membrane Repair Assay Using a Two-photon Laser Microscope
Published on: January 2, 2018
Membrane damage in dehydrated bacteria and its repair
M Frankenberg-Schwager1, G Turcu, C Thomas
1Arbeitsgruppe biophysikalische Raumforschung, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, FRG.
Abstract:
The dehydration of bacteria by vacuum exposure results in damage to the cell membrane. This membrane damage does not necessarily lead to cell death. A part of the dehydrated bacteria is capable of eliminating the membrane damage by repair processes. Repair can proceed rapidly under conditions that permit synthesizing activities. The kinetics of this repair process were studied by means of the membrane-mediated biosynthesis of the cell wall as well as by the recovery of resistance to small concentrations of lysozyme. Repair is a precondition for cell proliferation. At low temperature cells can conserve their membrane damage and the repair process can be initiated when conditions become favourable.
Related Concept Videos
Other Stress Responses in Bacteria
Cellular Injury I: Introduction
Plasma Membrane in Bacteria and Archaea
Bacterial Protein Maturation
Bacterial Cell Wall
Mismatch Repair
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...

