[Heliomycin decrease in the pool of purine- and pyrimidine-containing compounds in bacterial cells]

Heliomycin inhibited formation of the pool or purine and pyrimidine containing compounds in the cells of the growing cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli both in the lag phase at the maximum rate of formation of the pool of compounds absorbing at 260 nm and in the exponential phase. A decrease in the concentration of purine and pyrimidine containing compounds in the acid-soluble fraction of the cells by the antibiotic was not caused by the disturbed permeability of the membranes. Apparently, heliomycin interfered with the regulation of RNA synthesis, either directly or through its action on the energy metabolism of the cells.