MECHANISM OF ACTION OF PSICOFURANINE

Abstract
The mechanism of action of the new antibiotic, psicofuranine, was studied by quantitative reversal of its antimicrobial action on Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibition can be effectively reversed by several compounds containing purine bases. The most effective reversing agents contained guanine, whereas adenine-and hypoxanthine-containing nucleosides and nucleotides were much less active. The experimental evidence indicated that one possible effect of psicofuran-ine is its interference with the biosynthesis of guanylic acid from xanthylic acid.