Inhibition of the electron transport system in Staphylococcus aureus by trimethylamine-N-oxide.
Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus but not of S. epidermidis, which is the main flora in ripening squid, the Japanese traditional sea food Ika-shiokara. This selective inhibition of S. aureus was based on the inhibition of the electron transport system. The cytochrome fraction isolated from S. aureus was converted from the reduced to the oxidized form by the addition of TMAO. It is suggested that the inhibition occurred between cytochrome B and cytochrome o.
Suzuki
S
S
Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University, Japan.
Kubo
A
A
Shinano
H
H
Takama
K
K
D003580:Cytochromes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D008744:Methylamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
D003580:Cytochromes; D008744:Methylamines; C005855:trimethyloxamine