The assimilation of amino-acids by bacteria. 15. Actions of antibiotics on nucleic acid and protein synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Bacteriostatic concns. of chloramphenicol, aureomycin and terramycin inhibit protein synthesis by washed suspensions of S. aureus. Such concns. simultaneously stimulate nucleic acid synthesis. Bacitracin inhibits protein and nucleic acid synthesis to the same extent. Complete inhibition requires a concn. of bacitracin 100 times that which prevents growth. Penicillin, in high concns., prevents the acceleration of protein synthesis produced by the addition of purines and pyrimidines to the incubation mixture containing amino acids and glucose.