Effect of chlorpromazine on conjugal plasmid transfer and sex pili.
The major tranquillizer chlorpromazine (Cpz) inhibited the conjugal transfer of R and F'lac plasmids. The frequency of transfer of R-144 and R-100 plasmids was reduced with 2-3 log by Cpz at a concentration of 50-100 microgram/ml, while the frequency of RM-98 plasmid did not change under the same conditions. Cpz at 100 microgram/ml was an effective inhibitor of the transfer of F'lac plasmid. By means of electron microscopy and plaque assay, 100 microgram/ml Cpz was shown to reduce the adsorption rate of male specific ribonucleic acid phages MS-2 to the sides of F-pili. Common pili and flagellae seemed to be intact, but sex pili probably retracted in the presence of Cpz.
D000327:Adsorption; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003090:Coliphages / Q000378:metabolism; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D005144:F Factor; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D010957:Plasmids; D011815:R Factors
D002746:Chlorpromazine