A Correlation between Iodine Permeability and the Gram Characteristic of Cells

Bartholomew, J. W.; Cromwell, Thomas; Finkelstein, Harold

doi:10.1038/183123a0

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In a previous publication (Bartholomew et al, 1959), it was shown that intact cells could be Gram-differentiated when stained with iodine alone, with ethyl alcohol as the solvent and with a filter-paper chromatographic technique. Since the previous results were obtained with a visual reading of the iodine intensity, it was decided to repeat this ex)erinient with sodium thiosulfate to measure quantitatively the iodine released.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Analysis of the Mechanism of Gram Differentiation by Use of a Filter-Paper Chromatographic Technique

1965

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Analysis of the mechanism of Gram differentiation by use of a filter-paper chromatographic technique. J. Bacteriol. 90:766-777. 1965.-Data are presented which demonstrate that the mechanism of gram-positivity could not be due solely to factors such as a single, specific gram-positive substrate, specific affinities of crystal violet for certain cellular components, a specific crystal violet-iodine-substrate complex, or to any specific characteristic of the dye, iodine, or solvent molecules. Ruptured cells of gram-positive organisms stain gram-negatively when subjected to a standard Gram-stain procedure. However, when stained fragments of broken cells were deposited in thick layers on the surface of filter-paper strips and exposed to decolorizers, the rate of dye release correlated with the Gram characteristic of the intact cell. Therefore, the intact cell in itself is not an absolute requirement for Gram differentiation. The data are interpreted as indicating that the mechanism of Gram differentiation primarily involves the rate of permeation of molecules (dye, iodine, solvent) through the interstitial spaces of cell-wall material.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Chromatographic apparatus. The apparatus used was similar to one described by Umbreit, Burris, and Stauffer (1964), and by Bartholomew, Cromwell, and Finkelstein (1959). It consisted of large Pyrex test tubes (32 by 300 mm) with cork stoppers equipped with a height-adjustable clip to receive a Whatman no.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of the Mechanism of Gram Differentiation by Use of a Filter-Paper Chromatographic Technique

1965

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“…Burke and Barnes 15Kaplan and Kaplan (56) Wensinck and Boev6 126Bartholomew, Cromwell, and Finkelstein 11stain procedure. Table 8 gives a brief, selected summary of the principal theories and substances alleged to be involved (10, 11,15,21,24,30,44,45,56,71,73,97,101,102,117).…”

Section: Permeabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Anatomy of the Bacterial Surface1

Saltón¹

1961

Bacteriological Reviews

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“…Our results, however, showed that all organisms, intact or ruptured, Gram-positive or Gram-negative, were decolorized more rapidly by a wet than by a dry Gram procedure. A very conclusive argument against the formation of a Gram-positive substrate dye iodine complex is the fact that it has been demonstrated that cells stained with iodine alone (Bartholomew, Cromwell & Finkelstein, 1959) or dye alone (Benians, 1920;Bartholomew & Mittwer, 1950) could be properly Gram differentiated if care were taken with the decolorization procedure. Thus, the Gram-positive characteristic could not be due entirely to any such proposed complex.…”

Section: Effect Of Moisture On Gram Differentiation 263mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some believe that Gram differentiation may be a permeability or permeation phenomenon (Benians, 1920; Burke & Barnes, 1929; Bartholomew, Cromwell & Finkelstein, 1959; Salton, 1963); some believe it to be due to differences in basic dye uptake (Stearn & Stearn, 1924; Barbaro 8: Kennedy, 1954;Lamanna & Mallette, 1954); and some believe it to be the result of some specific Gram-positive chemical component in the cell such as lipids (Schumacher, 1928), proteins (Deussen, 1921), nucleic acids (Henry & Stacey, 1943), carbohydrate (Webb, 1948), sulfhydryl groups (Fischer 8: Larose, 1952) and glycerophosphate (teichoic acids ;Mitchell & Moyle, 1950. This variety of proposed Gram-positive components leads to the suspicion that no single component can adequately explain the phenomenon of Gram positivity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Moisture on Gram Differentiation, and its Relation to Proposed Gram-Positive Substrates in Yeast and Other Organisms

Bartholomew¹,

Tucker²,

Finkelstein³

1964

Journal of General Microbiology

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SUMMARYWet and dry Gram staining procedures have different characteristics in respect to their rates of decolorization. It has been proposed that this difference is due to a Gram-positive substrate which dissociates (becomes Gram-negative) in the presence of water. However, the differences between wet and dry Gram procedures can also be explained on the hypothesis that water influences the rate of solvent permeation through cell envelopes. Since no direct proof exists for the reality of the proposed Gram-positive substrate, and since evidence is presented here which cannot be explained by such a hypothesis, it is felt that the solvent permeation concept should be considered seriously as an explanation for the decolorization differences observed between wet and dry Gram procedures.

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A Correlation between Iodine Permeability and the Gram Characteristic of Cells

Cited by 9 publications

References 2 publications

Analysis of the Mechanism of Gram Differentiation by Use of a Filter-Paper Chromatographic Technique

Analysis of the Mechanism of Gram Differentiation by Use of a Filter-Paper Chromatographic Technique

The Anatomy of the Bacterial Surface1

The Effect of Moisture on Gram Differentiation, and its Relation to Proposed Gram-Positive Substrates in Yeast and Other Organisms

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