Cell envelope of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: phospholipase activity and its relationship to autolysis

The relationship between conditions which permit or inhibit cell lysis and those which promote phospholipid hydrolysis in Neisseria gonorrhoeae was investigated. Suspension of exponential-phase gonococci in buffer in the absence of divalent cations resulted in autolysis but not in phosphlipid hydrolysis. The addition of Ca2+ or Mg2+ to the buffer inhibited autolysis and markedly stimulated the hydrolysis of phosphatidylethanolamine. Incubation of cells in buffer at pH 6 inhibited both autolysis and phospholipid hydrolysis.