MACROMOLECULAR SYNTHESIS AND THE BACTERICIDAL EFFECT OF STREPTOMYCIN

Abstract

Rosenkranz, Herbert S. (Columbia University, New York, N.Y.). Macromolecular synthesis and the bactericidal effect of streptomycin. J. Bacteriol. 87: 606–603. 1964.—Hydroxylamine, a bacteriostatic agent which inhibits deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and protein synthesis, interferes with the lethal action of streptomycin on growing cells of Escherichia coli . The addition of hydroxylamine to cultures exposed for various times to streptomycin prevents the further killing of the survivors. On the other hand, phenethyl alcohol, a chemical which interferes with DNA synthesis, does not reverse the action of streptomycin. From this and the mode of action of hydroxylamine, it is suggested that the structural and functional integrity of RNA is required for the bactericidal action of streptomycin.