[The dependence of the antibacterial effect of the polycationic peptide warnerin on the energy state of target cells].
The bactericidal effect of the polycationic peptide warnerin, produced by Staphylococcus warneri IEGM KL-1, was found to depend on the energy state of susceptible Staphylococcus epidermidis cells. The pre-treatment of these cells with compounds that diminish the proton-motive force of plasma membranes enhanced cell tolerance to warnerin. The components deltapsi and deltapH of the membrane proton potential influenced the antibacterial activity of warnerin in different ways. In particular, the antibacterial activity of warnerin decreased when the electric component of the proton-motive force of target membranes declined.