ACTION-MODE OF ANTIMICROBIAL ALTERSOLANOL-A IN PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA

The antimicrobial mechanism of altersolanol A was studied by using Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO 3080. This reduced anthraquinone antibiotic inhibited the incorporation of radioactive precursors into macromolecules (DNA, RNA, and Protein) in whole cells nonspecifically. It increased respiration of P. aeruginosa cells, though it had no effect on proton condution. Oxidation of NADH in the membrane fraction isolated from P. aeruginosa was enhanced by altersolanol A. Furthermore, altersolanol A stimulated the oxidation of NADH by the enzyme preparation of cytochrome c reductase in the absence of cytochrome c. Altersolanol A seemed to interfere with the respiratory chain in the bacterial membrane as an electron acceptor.