EFFECTS OF INHIBITORS OF PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS ON LYSIS OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI INDUCED BY BETA-LACTAM ANTIBIOTICS

The role of protein synthesis in ampicillin-induced lysis of Escherich ia coli was investigated, The inhibition of protein synthesis through amino acid deprivation resulted in the rapid development of ampicillin tolerance as a consequence of the stringent response, as previously r eported, In contrast, inhibition of protein synthesis by use of riboso me inhibitors such as chloramphenicol did not readily confer ampicilli n tolerance and, in fact, promoted the development of both stages of t he ampicillin-induced lysis process, i,e,, (i) an ampicillin-dependent stage which apparently involves the interaction of penicillin-binding proteins with ampicillin and (ii) an ampicillin-independent stage whi ch may represent the events leading to the deregulation of peptidoglyc an hydrolase activity, We propose that lysis was facilitated when prot ein synthesis was inhibited because the production of new penicillin-b inding proteins to replace those which were ampicillin inhibited was p revented under these conditions.