STUDIES ON THE MODE OF ACTION OF NOVOBIOCIN

Abstract

Novobiocin (Streptonivicin) is a new broadtherapy antibiotic recently announced by Smith et al. (1956). Chemically it is an acid containing a nine carbon sugar attached glycosidically to the seven position of 3 [4 hydroxy 3 (3 methyl 2 butenyl) benzamido] 4,7 dihydroxy 8 methyl coumarin (Hoeksema et al., 1956; Hinman et al., 1956). Some in vitro studies are presented here which may have some bearing on the mode of action of this antibiotic. These include the effect of MgSO4 and other metals on antibiotic activity, the induction of filamentation, and the effect of the antibiotic on the synthesis of nucleic acid.