Alcohol either ethanol and methanol do as a disinfectant for microorganism on a skin, tissues and others. The strategy for killing bacteria is differ from one researcher to other. we need to fully understand how theses compounds kills or inhibits microorganisms
Bacteria have a phospholipid bi-layer membrane and proteins that play crucial roles in their cells such as the catalysis of reactions and the selective passage and control of substances passing in and out of the cell.
When a bacterium and ethanol come into contact, the phospholipid bi-layer is dissolved by the ethanol which can have detrimental effects as to the selective passage of substances into and out of the cell.
Secondly, this contact can lead to protein denaturation. As enzymes are proteins, crucial enzymes that are required for metabolism will be denatured or won’t be able to function. This would lead to the inability of the bacterium to conduct anabolic and catabolic reactions that encompass the class of metabolic reactions required for it to survive
Two different mechanisms through which ethyl alcohol kills the bacteria; Protein denaturation and dissolving the lipid membrane. (Reference attached below):
http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=2160
Bacteria have a phospholipid bi-layer membrane and proteins that play crucial roles in their cells such as the catalysis of reactions and the selective passage and control of substances passing in and out of the cell.
When a bacterium and ethanol come into contact, the phospholipid bi-layer is dissolved by the ethanol which can have detrimental effects as to the selective passage of substances into and out of the cell.
Secondly, this contact can lead to protein denaturation. As enzymes are proteins, crucial enzymes that are required for metabolism will be denatured or won’t be able to function. This would lead to the inability of the bacterium to conduct anabolic and catabolic reactions that encompass the class of metabolic reactions required for it to survive
Alcohols kill bacteria by first making the lipids that are part of the outer protective cell membrane of each bacterium cell more soluble in water so that the cell membrane begins to lose its structural integrity and fall apart. As the cell membrane disintegrates, alcohol can then enter the cell and denature proteins within each bacterium
Proteins, the machinery of the cell, must be dissolved in water in order to properly function. When one puts a protein in ethanol (ethyl alcohol), the protein can not function properly and becomes denatured. Also, bacteria are surrounded by a lipid membrane (fatty acids). The membrane is held together because the alkane chain of a fatty acid is hydrophobic, and thus buries itself among other lipids. However, the lipids will freely dissolve in ethanol, causing a disruption of the bacterial membrane. This ruptures the bacteria so it can no longer live.
Ethyl alcohol kills bacteria mainly through 2 mechanisms: protein denaturation and dissolving the lipid membrane.
Proteins, the machinery of the cell, must be dissolved in water in order to properly function. When one puts a protein in ethanol (ethyl alcohol), the protein can not function properly and becomes denatured. Also, bacteria are surrounded by a lipid membrane (fatty acids). The membrane is held together because the alkane chain of a fatty acid is hydrophobic, and thus buries itself amongst other lipids. However, the lipids will freely dissolve in ethanol, causing a disruption of the bacterial membrane. This ruptures the bacteria so it can no longer live.
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