The action mecanism of actidione

Abstract

Abstract Investigation of the action mechanism of actidione on yeasts has made it quite clear that yeasts with a high respiratory quotient, i.e. strongly aerobic fermenting, are especially sensitive to actidione. These observations led to attempts to examine whether actidione intervenes in the Embden‐Meyerhof cycle in dormant yeasts. There appears to be a check on the enzyme alcoholdehydrogenase. The enzyme lactic acid‐dehydrogenase from muscle, which also contains DPN as coenzyme, shows exactly the same type of sensitivity. From an examination of the cause of this effect it appears that in vitro glutarimide and succinimide can imitate the action of actidione on these enzymes exactly. Substitution of the imido group completely destroys the activity of these substances. It is shown that it is probably worth while to examine a whole series of glutarimide and succinimide derivatives for fungicidal and anti‐tumour activity.