Cell wall active antibiotics reduce chromosomal DNA fragmentation by peptidoglycan hydrolysis in Staphylococcus aureus.
Lysostaphin digestion of peptidoglycan (PG) from Staphylococcus aureus resulted in chromosomal DNA fragmentation by released DNase, as directly visualized in situ on isolated nucleoids. Nevertheless, DNA digestion was partially prevented by previous incubation with antibiotics that inhibit PG synthesis. This inhibitory effect was much more remarkable with glycopeptides vancomycin and mainly teicoplanin than with beta-lactams cloxacillin and ceftazidime. Therefore, inhibition of PG chain elongation has a more significant inhibition of DNA degradation than inhibition of PG cross-linking, possibly due to a reduction in DNase storage at the cell wall.
Genetics Unit, INIBIC-Complejo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Spain.
María
M
Tamayo
Rebeca
R
Santiso
Jaime
J
Gosálvez
Germán
G
Bou
María Del Cármen
Mdel C
Fernández
José Luis
JL
Fernández
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006868:Hydrolysis; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010457:Peptidoglycan