Inhibition of bacterial DNA synthesis by edeine. Effect on Escherichia coli mutants lacking DNA polymerase I

Abstract

Edeine A is an oligopeptide antibiotic substance which inhibits reversibly DNA synthesis in bacteria. The effect of the antibiotic on DNA synthesis in vitro was investigated. Incorporation of TMP into DNA by plasmolyzed cells and by DNA-membrane complexes from DNA polymerase I deficient Escherichia coli was abolished by edeine A. DNA synthesis catalyzed by soluble polymerases from Pol A 1 − cells was also inhibited. The antibiotic has no effect on DNA synthesis catalyzed by DNA polymerase I. Inhibition of DNA synthesis in vitro is directly related to certain structural features of the antibiotic and not to its polycationic nature; the in vitro inhibitor is edeine A 1, the biologically active component of edeine A.