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The effect of organic solvents on selected microorganisms and model liposome membrane

Gabriela Dyrda1, Ewa Boniewska-Bernacka2, Dariusz Man3

  • 1Faculty of Chemistry, University of Opole, Oleska 48, 45-052, Opole, Poland. gaba@uni.opole.pl.

Molecular Biology Reports
|April 3, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Organic solvents like methanol and DMF inhibit bacterial and yeast growth by altering cell membrane fluidity. This study investigated solvent effects on Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Organic solvents are widely used in biological research and industry.
  • Understanding their impact on microbial growth is crucial for safety and experimental design.
  • Cell membrane integrity and fluidity are vital for microbial survival and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of various organic solvents on the growth of key microbial species.
  • To explore the relationship between solvent properties and microbial growth inhibition.
  • To elucidate the role of cell membrane fluidity in solvent-induced growth effects.

Main Methods:

  • Exposure of Escherichia coli DH5α, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae D273 to methanol, ethanol, acetone, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide, and Nujol.
  • Monitoring of cell growth and development.
  • Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies using egg yolk lecithin model liposomes to assess membrane fluidity changes.

Main Results:

  • All tested organic solvents exhibited inhibitory effects on microbial growth.
  • Diverse solvent tolerance was observed, linked to biochemical activity and membrane fluidity changes.
  • Solvents like Nujol, DMF, and ethanol decreased membrane fluidity, while acetone increased it.
  • Decreased membrane fluidity impaired intracellular nutrient supply, leading to growth inhibition, even with neutral solvents like Nujol.

Conclusions:

  • Organic solvents significantly impact microbial growth by altering cell membrane biophysical properties.
  • Cell membrane fluidity is a critical factor determining microbial susceptibility to organic solvents.
  • The findings provide insights into microbial stress responses and solvent interactions with biological membranes.
Keywords:
BacteriaElectron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)LiposomesOrganic solventsYeast

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