On the mode of action of cryomycin.

The mode of action of cryomycin upon Staphylococcus aureus IFO 3061 and Bacillus subtilis IFO 3037 has been investigated. Cryomycin inhibited the syntheses of protein, RNAand DNAto almost the same degree. It caused a rapid increase of endogenous and exogenous respiration in the test organisms at minimumgrowth inhibitory concentrations. It was concluded that the primary effect of cryomycin was on the coupling of oxidative phosphorylation followed by secondary effects such as membranedamage, and protein and nucleic acid syntheses. Cryomycin also caused the leakage of A26om âbsorbing materials from most of the Bacillus species.