Molecular Pharmacology, Vol 2, 311-318, Copyright © 1966 by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Some Effects of Spermine on Escherichia coli

¹ Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

Exponentially growing cultures of Escherichia coli were exposed to bactericidal concentrations of the polyamine spermine. The earliest changes noted were slowing of protein synthesis, stimulation of ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis, and increased potassium fluxes; these changes preceded a decline in viable number. Possible interrelationships among these early effects of spermine have been discussed, and these effects have been compared with those of another polycationic antibiotic, streptomycin.

Both glucose starvation and chloramphenicol treatment blocked the bactericidal action of spermine, but their protective mechanisms appeared different. Glucose starvatiomi prevented the usual uptake of spermine by growing cells, whereas chloramphenicol treatment did not.

Note:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work was supported by a Post-Sophomore fellowship from the U.S. Public Health Service and grants No. AI 05724-01 and I-K3-AI-11 767-01 of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. We should like to thank Dr. Bernard D. Davis, Mrs. Elinor Mills, and Dr. Juiian Davies for their helpful advice, and Mrs. Avril Elkort for her expert technical assistance.