Requirement of divalent metal ions for bacitracin activity.

Adler, Richard H. (University of California, Los Angeles) and John E. Snoke. Requirement of divalent metal ions for bacitracin activity. J. Bacteriol. 83:1315-1317. 1962.-The antibiotic activity of bacitracin towards Staphylococcus aureus is completely suppressed by ethylenediaminetetraacetate. The conclusion that bacitracin activity requires the presence of metal ions is supported by the demonstration that the addition of a number of divalent ions reverses the effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetate. The most active of these ions, cadmium, manganese, and zinc, directly enhance the activity of bacitracin.