Mechanism of action of bilharcid and tartar-emetic.
An investigation on the mechanism of action of bilharcid and tartar-emetic produced the following results. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis by cell of E. coli B from either the maximum stationary phase or the exponential phase are inhibited by 3.62 mM of bilharcid or 16.81 mM of tartar-emetic immediately upon addition of the inhibitor. These drugs cause a downshift of the Tm of native DNA. They displace MG from the DNA-MG complex. They increase the specific viscosity of DNA solution. Also the synthesis of constitutive enzyme (alkaline phosphatase) was stopped, as was the induction of the synthesis of new enzyme (beta-galactosidase). Bilharcid and tartar-emetic act primarily on cell membrane and cause the release of 260 mM absorbing substances from E. coli B. Moreover, they lyse not only protoplasts of B. subtilis, but also spheroplasts of E. coli B.
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000965:Antimony / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000966:Antimony Potassium Tartrate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D004794:Enzyme Repression / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000096:biosynthesis
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D000965:Antimony; D000966:Antimony Potassium Tartrate; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase