title: Mode of action of the antibacterial compound dequalinium acetate.
abstract: Dequalinium acetate is taken up rapidly by bacterial cells. Unlike the membrane-active drugs exemplified by cetrimide or chlorhexidine, its capacity for damaging the plasma membrane is low. The drug appears to penetrate quite rapidly into the cytoplasm where its effect seems to be exerted. A review of the evidence obtained in this study suggests that nucleic acid-containing components of the cell may be the prime target of this compound.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000187:drug effects*; D002473:Cell Wall; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004586:Electrophoresis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009113:Muramidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011523:Protoplasts; D011804:Quinolines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D011804:Quinolines; D004492:Edetic Acid; D009113:Muramidase