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Mode of Action of Myxin on Escherichia coli¹

^a Cell Biology Research Institute, Canada Department of Agriculture, Research Branch, Ottawa, Canada

ABSTRACT

The effect of the new antibiotic, myxin, on the syntheses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and protein in Escherichia coli (strains B and 15T^–) was examined. Within 7 min of the addition of myxin at 5 µg/ml, the synthesis of new bacterial DNA was almost completely inhibited. This was followed by an extensive degradation of the pre-existing DNA to an acid-soluble form. All of the evidence indicated that the primary effect of the antibiotic was on cellular DNA. The synthesis of RNA was completely inhibited after 15 min of exposure to myxin (5 µg/ml), and the synthesis of protein was markedly reduced after 30 min. There was no measurable breakdown of either RNA or protein in the myxin-treated cells. A marked stimulation of ¹⁴C-uracil incorporation was found in the presence of myxin in 15T^– cells only. This did not result from an increased rate of RNA synthesis but was due to an increase in the proportion of exogenous uracil, relative to endogenous uracil, incorporated into cellular RNA. This probably reflected a partial inhibition of the biosynthesis of uridine monophosphate from orotate. At 4.5 µg of myxin per ml and with 0.8 x 10⁸ cells per ml, 50% of the antibiotic was reduced in 15 min from the biologically active oxidized form to the biologically inactive state. Under these conditions, a maximum of 0.6% (27 µµg/ml) of the myxin was retained in the cells.

¹ Contribution no. 623.