In vitro inhibition of bacterial DNA gyrase by cinodine, a glycocinnamoylspermidine antibiotic

Abstract

Cinodine, a broad-spectrum glycocinnamoylspermidine antibiotic, binds to DNA and irreversibly inhibits bacterial and phase DNA synthesis. Cinodine was found to inhibit the activity of Micrococcus luteus DNA gyrase in vitro, but it did not inhibit the activities of two other DNA-binding enzymes, namely, topoisomerase I and BamHI. Although we cannot yet conclude that DNA gyrase is an intracellular target of the drug, in vitro inhibition of the enzyme by cinodine appears to be specific.