The inhibition of phosphatidylglycerol synthesis in Escherichia coli by 3,4-dihydroxybutyl-1-phosphonate.

The effect of 3,4-dihydroxybutyl-1-phosphonate on phosphoglyceride metabolism of Escherichia coli strain 8 was examined. The compound inhibits the incorporation of [33P]phosphate into phospholipids. Phosphatidylglycerol accumulation is very strongly inhibited, while phosphatidylethanolamine and cardiolipin accumulation are less significantly affected. Pulse labeling studies using [32P]phosphate indicate that phospholipid synthesis is inhibited to a much greater extent by 3,4-dihydroxybutyl-1 -phosphonate than is the synthesis of DNA or RNA. These studies also indicate that 3,4dihydroxybutyl-1 -phosphonate severely inhibits phosphatidylglycerol synthesis and that phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis is inhibited less severely. Cardiolipin synthesis is only slightly aBected. Studies on the rate of disappearance of [32P]phosphate from the phosphoglycerides of prelabeled cells indicate that 3,4-dihydroxybutyl-1-phosphonate treatment does not alter the rate of turnover of the phospholipids. 3,4-Dihydroxy[3-3H]butyl-l-phosphonate was readily incorporated into a chloroform-extractable fraction of E. coli strain 8.