title: Aspects of the mechanism of action of some cephalosporins.
abstract: Cephaloridine and cephalexin had no effect on ribonucleic acid (RNA), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), or protein synthesis in Escherichia coli. However, cephalosporin 7/30 [7-(S-benzylthioacetamido)-cephem-3-ylmethyl-N -dimethyldithiocarbamate-4-carboxylic acid] and dimethyldithiocarbamate (DMDT), which occupies the side chain at position 3 in the 7/30 molecule, inhibited protein synthesis (and, to a lesser extent, RNA and DNA syntheses) in E. coli and had an inhibitory effect on the growth of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis. A bioautograph technique showed that two inhibitory spots were obtained with 7/30 but only one such spot with cephaloridine. Release of DMDT onto or in the bacterial cell may be responsible for "unusual" mode of action of cephalosporin 7/30.
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002509:Cephaloridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D002854:Chromatography, Paper; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006595:Hexosamines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000432:Methanol; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012440:Saccharomyces / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D012997:Solvents; D013045:Species Specificity; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013859:Thiocarbamates / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002511:Cephalosporins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006595:Hexosamines; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012997:Solvents; D013859:Thiocarbamates; D002509:Cephaloridine; D010400:Penicillin G; D000432:Methanol