title: Antibiotic bacitracin induces hydrolytic degradation of nucleic acids.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacitracin is a polypeptide antibiotic active against Gram-positive bacterial strains. Its mechanism of action postulates disturbing the cell wall synthesis by inhibiting dephosphorylation of the lipid carrier. We have discovered that bacitracin induces degradation of nucleic acids, being particularly active against RNA.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the examination of the nucleolytic activity of bacitracin several model RNA and DNA oligomers were used. The oligomers were labeled at their 5' ends with (32)P radioisotope and following treatment with bacitracin the cleavage sites and efficiency were determined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bacitracin induces degradation of RNA at guanosine residues, preferentially in single-stranded RNA regions. Bacitracin is also able to degrade DNA to some extent but comparable effects to those observed with RNA require its 10-fold higher concentration. The sites of degradation in DNA are very infrequent and preferentially occur near cytidine residues. Free radicals are not involved in the reaction, and which probably proceeds via a hydrolytic mechanism. The phosphate groups at the cleavage sites are present at the 3' ends of RNA products and at the 5' ends of DNA fragments. Importantly, the presence of EDTA does not influence RNA degradation but completely inhibits the degradation of DNA. For DNA degradation divalent metal ions like Mg(2+), Mn(2+) or Zn(2+) are absolutely necessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability of bacitracin to degrade nucleic acids via a hydrolytic mechanism was a surprising observation, and it is of interest whether these properties can contribute to its mechanisms of action during antibiotic treatment.
authors: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland. Electronic address: jerzy.ciesiolka@ibch.poznan.pl.
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Ciesiołka
authors: Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland. Electronic address: malgorzata.jezowska-bojczuk@chem.uni.wroc.pl.
authors: Małgorzata
authors: M
authors: Jeżowska-Bojczuk
authors: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Wrzesiński
authors: Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland.
authors: Kamila
authors: K
authors: Stokowa-Sołtys
authors: Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland.
authors: Justyna
authors: J
authors: Nagaj
authors: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland.
authors: Aleksandra
authors: A
authors: Kasprowicz
authors: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland.
authors: Leszek
authors: L
authors: Błaszczyk
authors: Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland.
authors: Wojciech
authors: W
authors: Szczepanik
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001414:Bacitracin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001414:Bacitracin; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA
keywords: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) degradation; Hydrolytic cleavage mechanism; Nucleolytic property; Ribonucleic acid (RNA) degradation