Studies with hydroxyurea: I. The reversible inhibition of bacterial DNA synthesis and the effect of hydroxyurea on the bactericidal action of streptomycin

Abstract

1. Hydroxyurea is bacteriostatic for Escherichia coli. 2. Concentrations of hydroxyurea, which do not affect the synthesis and metabolism of RNA and proteins, induce a reversible inhibition of DNA synthesis. 3. The ribosomes, ribosomal RNA and messenger RNA from cells treated with hydroxyurea appear to be normal and functional. 4. The DNA from hydroxyurea-treated cells is not degraded nor does it appear to be cross-linked. 5. The mode of action of hydroxyurea appears to be different from that of compounds that irreversibly inhibit the synthesis of bacterial DNA. 6. Using hydroxyurea to inhibit the synthesis of DNA in E. coli, it could be shown that DNA synthesis is not required for the bactericidal effect of streptomycin.