title: Effects of pteridines on chloramine-T-induced growth inhibition in E. coli strains: correlations with molecular structure.
abstract: Little is known about the biological significance of most pteridines, despite their ubiquitous occurrence in living cells. Seventeen different pteridines were tested for their ability to modulate the growth inhibitory effect of the disinfectant chloramine-T on three different strains of Escherichia coli bacteria. We found striking differences between the pteridine derivatives: whereas aromatic pterins with a hydroxy function at side chain atom C2' increased the growth inhibition, those with a 7,8-dihydro structure exerted a suppressive effect. These results are in excellent agreement with previously observed effects of pteridine derivatives on chloramine-T-induced luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, and together, are highly suggestive of a general interaction of these compounds with oxygen or chlorine free radicals. This interaction is likely to have biological significance and might offer an explanation for the widespread occurrence of pteridines.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Chemistry, Karl-Franzens-University of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Horejsi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Estelberger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mlekusch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ottl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vrecko
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reibnegger
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002700:Chloramines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008165:Luminol / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011621:Pteridines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014105:Tosyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002700:Chloramines; D004202:Disinfectants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D011621:Pteridines; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; C016300:chloramine-T; D008165:Luminol