ISSN:
1573-5176
Keywords:
cyanobacteria
;
bioactive compounds
;
allelopathy
;
calothrixin
;
hapalindole
;
alkaloids
;
Fischerella
;
Calothrix
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The alkaloids 12-epi-hapalindole E isonitrile,isolated from the cyanobacterium Fischerellasp., and the indolophenanthridine calothrixin A, fromCalothrix sp., were characterized in terms oftheir ability to kill several organisms and celltypes, and their biochemical modes of action. Bothcompounds inhibited RNA synthesis, and consequentlyprotein synthesis, in Bacillus subtilis. Calothrixin A also inhibited DNA replication, thehapalindole having little effect on this process. Measurements of in vitro RNA synthesis confirmedthe in vivo results and suggested that bothcompounds inhibit RNA polymerase directly; the degreeof inhibition was independent of the DNAconcentration, but strongly dependent on thepolymerase concentration.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008170007044
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