title: Bactericidal action of sulfhydryl binding compounds.
abstract: An oxidation product of indole-3-acetic acid, 3-methyleneoxindole, is highly reactive with free sulfhydryl groups. It has been shown to be a potent bactericidal agent in actively growing cultures. The bactericidal action of 3-methyleneoxindole was found to be independent of protein or deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis but to require the capacity for ribonucleic acid synthesis. The reactions underlying the bactericidal effect of 3-methyleneoxindole are not unique to it among compounds which can bind free SH groups, since N-ethylmaleimide appeared to have a similar mode of action.
mesh_terms: D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D005033:Ethylmaleimide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000078183:Oxindoles; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007211:Indoles; D000078183:Oxindoles; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents; C008440:3-methyleneoxindole; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D005033:Ethylmaleimide