[Relationship between the synthesis of a new stress response component and bacterial cell metabolism]

Various stress factors (incubation with redox-cycling agents, ozonization, heat shock) that induced accumulation of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-2,4-cyclopyrophosphate (MEC) were also shown to induce various alterations of the phospholipid composition in three microbial species: Corynebacterium ammoniagenes, Micrococcus luteus, and Staphylococcus aureus. The influence of adding 10 carbohydrates to the growth medium on MEC accumulation by C. ammoniagenes cells was tested. Only glucose and mannose exerted a pronounced stimulatory effect on the MEC synthesis under oxidative stress. The target of oxidative attack whose transformation causes MEC synthesis is suggested to be located near or on the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane.