[The effect of antibiotics on staphylococcal respiratory chain enzymes]

Comparative data were presented about the effect of tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin (antibiotics-inhibitors of protein synthesis) and penicillin (inhibitor of biosynthesis of cell wall components) on the enzymes of staphylococci respiratory chain. It was shown that antibiotics affected energetic metabolism of cells. It was proved by change of activity of electron transport chain enzymes--oxidases, dehydrogenases, and by change of functioning of membrane-bonded ATP-ase. This effect is shown both in antibiotics addition to growing staphylococci cells and in their influence in vitro on the membrane apparatus of staphylococci cells. On the basis of these results we can suppose that the mechanism of action of these antibiotics has more complex character and side by side with protein synthesis and synthesis of cell wall it influences the activity of membrane-bonded enzymes.