Molecular Pharmacology, Vol 5, 300-302, Copyright © 1969 by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Fatty Acid-Conjugated Polyamines that Alter Cell Permeability and Active Transport Properties of Escherichia coil

¹ Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130

A class of plant alkaloid tumor inhibitors were described by Kupchan et al. [J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 89, 5718 (1967)] which are N-acyltriamines (fatty acid-conjugated aliphatic triamines). These substances are also growth-inhibitory for Escherichia coil at very low concentrations. The mode of action of the triamines appears to be disruption of surface properties (the cells do not lyse), since at inhibitory concentrations the cells become leaky and lose radioactive potassium and thiomethyl galactoside. The specific energy-dependent accumulation of potassium and thiomethyl galactoside is also inhibited.

Note:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We are grateful to Drs. H. R. Mahler and M. B. Baylor for telling us about the N-acyltriamines, and to Dr. S. M. Kupchan for providing them. Mrs. Geraldine Knuckles assisted in the experiments.