title: Pleiotropic effect of sodium arsenite on Escherichia coli.
abstract: The effects of sodium arsenite at a sub-MIC concentration (25 mg/l) upon different bacterial functions were studied. This compound reduced the killing activity of nalidixic acid, amikacin, and meropenem. It also promoted the loss of F'lac from bacterial hosts and increased the number of recombinants in conjugation and transduction experiments. Transposition of Tn9 was also enhanced by the salt. In addition, sodium arsenite abolished the lethal effect of temperature on thermosusceptible DNA synthesis mutants in a similar manner to that seen in an anaerobic environment. Finally at a low dose, it induced the SOS response, and the related production of recA-dependent enzymes was reduced as the sodium arsenite concentration increased. It has been suggested that arsenite primarily affects the uvrA gene product, influencing the other bacterial functions studied. The energetic depletion caused by this compound appears to play a role in the activity of autolytic enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology "C.A. Romanzi", University of Genoa, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gualco
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roveta
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchese
authors.forename: Eugenio A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Debbia
mesh_terms: D018053:Arsenites / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D009268:Nalidixic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D013014:SOS Response, Genetics / Q000187:drug effects*; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018053:Arsenites; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D009268:Nalidixic Acid; C017947:sodium arsenite