Effect of diethylstilbestrol on substrate metabolism in Aerobacter aerogenes.

Experimental studies have indicated that compounds such as 4,4'-dihydroxy-a,f-diethylstilbene, commonly referred to as stilbestrol, greatly influence the physiological processes of animals and microorganisms. Brownlee et al. (1943) demonstrated that stilbestrol-type compounds were bactericidal against the gram-positive staphylococci and streptococci. Shacter (1953a) reported that stilbestrol first stimulated the endogenous respiration of yeast and then depressed respiration as the stilbestrol concentration was increased. Also, stilbestrol inhibited both respiration and fermentation when glucose was present. Salmony (1956) confirmed the observation that stilbestrol increased yeast cell respiration and concluded that stimulation was related to the chemical configuration of the test compound. Results also indicated that stilbestrol inhibited yeast respiration when acetate or ethanol was present but not when glutamate was present. San Clemente and MacKenzie (1957) reported that stilbestrol inhibited a number of different organisms. Reports have also indicated that isocitric dehydrogenase (Hagerman and Villee, 1957) and glutamate dehydrogenase (Emmelot and Bos, 1958) are sensitive to stilbestrol. In addition, studies have shown that stilbestrol stimulated the microbial digestion of cellulose in an artificial rumen (Brooks et al., 1954). In order to clarify the mechanism through which stilbestrol affects the metabolism of microorganisms we have attempted to more clearly define the conditions under which this phenomenon occurs. This paper is concerned with the influence of stilbestrol on substrate metabolism in Aerobacter aerogenes.