The inhibition of murein synthesis in staphylococcus aureus by the antibiotic tetaine

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 55; no. 4; pp. 1147 - 1155
• Main Authors: Chmara, H., Borowski, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 19.12.1973
• Subjects: Alanine - metabolism; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Biological Transport - drug effects; Chromatography, Paper; Cycloserine - pharmacology; D-cyclo; D-cycloserine; Dipeptides - biosynthesis; Lipids - biosynthesis; Lysine - metabolism; Meth; methicillin; Methicillin - pharmacology; Muramic Acids; Oligopeptides - pharmacology; Peptide Synthases - antagonists & inhibitors; Peptidoglycan - biosynthesis; Staphylococcus - drug effects; Staphylococcus - metabolism; Tet; tetaine; Tritium; UDP-Mur NAc; Uridine Diphosphate Sugars; uridine diphospho N-acetylmuramic acid; Vanco; vancomycin; Vancomycin - pharmacology; Meth; Tet; D-cyclo; UDP-Mur NAc; Vanco
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-291X(73)80015-4

tetaine inhibits the incorporation of 3H-Ala and 3H-Lys to murein of S. aureus/Oxford/. The inhibition occurs possibly at the level of incorporation of L-Ala to UDP-Mur-NAc, as in the presence of tetaine nucleotide precursors of murein synthesis were radioactive due to 3H-uridine and not 3H-Ala or 3H-Lys. The availability of alanine is not effected as tetaine does not influence its transport through the membrane. In the cell-free system tetaine decreases the activity of partially purified L-alanine adding enzyme. Tetaine is transported through the cell membrane by dipeptide carrier.