What happens to Gram-negative bacteria when the outer membrane is removed?
Gram-negative bacteria possess a thin peptidoglycan layer confined to the periplasm between the inner cytoplasmic membrane and a distinctive outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharide and trimeric porins. The outer membrane provides substantial mechanical support, contributes to shape maintenance, and functions as a selective barrier against hydrophobic toxins, bile salts, and many antibiotics. When this membrane is disrupted by EDTA, which chelates magnesium and calcium ions that stabilize LPS contacts, or by mild detergents and lysozyme treatment, barrier and load-bearing capacity are lost
Ref: Madigan et al., Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 16th ed., Chapter 3: Bacterial Envelope; Nature 2018, Outer membrane as load-bearing element.
