Effect of benzylpenicillin on murein biosynthesis, turnover and structure in Listeria monocytogenes cells.
The action of beta-lactam antibiotics such as ampicillin and benzylpenicillin on cells of Listeria monocytogenes appears to be bacteriostatic. However, after approximately two hours in the presence of 10 x MIC of benzylpenicillin the cells begin to rapidly lose viability without undergoing lysis. In this report we present the results of studies on the biosynthesis of murein in L. monocytogenes cells during the first 120 min of their exposure to benzylpenicillin as measured by the continuous and pulse incorporation of the precursor N-acetyl-D-[1-3H]glucosamine. The turnover of the murein sacculus in the presence of penicillin as well as the lack of discernible changes in the molecular structure of the murein synthesised in the presence of benzylpenicillin is also discussed.
Siwińska
M
M
Department of Bacterial Physiology, University of Warsaw, Poland.
Kłoszewska
M
M
Loniewska
A
A
Markiewicz
Z
Z
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000378:metabolism; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014316:Tritium / Q000378:metabolism
D010406:Penicillins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D014316:Tritium; D005944:Glucosamine; D010400:Penicillin G; D000117:Acetylglucosamine