Abstract
NALIDIXIC acid (NAL) has been described as a specific inhibitor of bacterial DNA synthesis in vivo and in vitro1–3, but its mechanism of action on susceptible bacteria remains obscure. There is no evidence to indicate that NAL can bind to DNA3,4, and none of the enzymes known to be involved in DNA replication is affected by NAL in vitro3–6. But it is known that nalA mutants of Escherichia coli are resistant to the drug7, as are in vitro DNA replicative systems derived from such mutants8. This suggested that a comparative study of DNA replication in nalA mutants and otherwise isogenic bacteria should facilitate identification of the hitherto unknown NAL target. We report here that NAL specifically arrests the later stages of chromosomal replication in bacteria sensitive to the drug.
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References
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CRUMPLIN, G., SMITH, J. Nalidixic acid and bacterial chromosome replication. Nature 260, 643–645 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/260643a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/260643a0
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