Effects of DNA gyrase inhibitors in a polyamine-auxotrophic strain of Escherichia coli

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 910; no. 1; pp. 21 - 26
• Main Authors: Duschak, Vilma G., Goldemberg, Sara H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 09.10.1987; Elsevier; North-Holland
• Subjects: Antibiotic; Biological and medical sciences; DNA gyrase; DNA synthesis; DNA, Bacterial - biosynthesis; E. coli; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth inhibition; Heat-Shock Proteins - biosynthesis; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Nalidixic acid; Nalidixic Acid - pharmacology; Novobiocin - pharmacology; Oxolinic Acid - pharmacology; Polyamine; Polyamine-auxotrophic mutant; Polyamines - physiology; Putrescine - physiology; Replication; Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; Antibiotic; Polyamine; Nalidixic acid; DNA synthesis; Growth inhibition; DNA gyrase; Polyamine-auxotrophic mutant; E. coli; DNA topoisomerase (ATP-hydrolysing); Enzyme; Escherichia coli; Bacteria; Escherichieae; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 0167-4781; 0006-3002; 1879-2634; 1878-2434
• DOI: 10.1016/0167-4781(87)90090-X

The polyamine content of the Escherichia coli polyamine-auxotrophic strain BGA 8 seemed to influence the effects of nalidixic acid, an antibiotic acting on subunit A of DNA gyrase. The growth rate was more affected under conditions of putrescine depletion and the inhibition could be partially relieved if the polycation was added back to the culture. DNA synthesis was likewise more sensitive to nalidixic acid in cultures grown without polyamine. The expression of some proteins characteristic of the heat-shock response, evoked by the antibiotic, showed a different persistence according to the presence or absence of polyamines. Novobiocin, acting on subunit B of gyrase, also promoted a differential effect depending on the polyamine content, but in this case putrescine-supplemented cells were more sensitive. The described findings suggest a role of polyamines in all the reactions carried out by gyrase, perhaps due to the influence of the polycations on the state of DNA aggregation.