Chloramphenicol inhibition of Pythium ultimum and Rhodotorula glutinis

Summary

The growth of Rhodotorula glutinis is inhibited by both D-threo chloramphenicol and an L-threo isomer of chloramphenicol (lacking the dichloroacetyl group), causing an increase in the mean generation time, in a variety of media, approximately proportional to the concentration of antibiotic. The antibiotic is not removed from the growth medium in any quantity during this inhibition of growth. The oxygen uptakes of normal and chloramphenicol-grown cells of R. glutinis are similar when expressed on a dry weight basis. The oxygen uptake of normal and L-threo isomer-grown cells is strongly inhibited by antimycin A, whereas D-threo chloramphenicol-grown cells are unaffected. There was no evidence to suggest that any uncoupling of phosphorylation occurred with either isomer. Pythium ultimum mycelium also showed similar oxygen uptakes per unit dry weight whether grown in the presence or absence of D-threo chloramphenicol. The D-threo chloramphenicol-grown mycelium was also insensitive to antimycin A in contrast to the normal mycelium which was strongly inhibited. P. ultimum grows slowly in the presence of 100 μg/ml D-threo chloramphenicol in a glucose salts medium, but is completely inhibited by a similar concentration in a glycerol salts medium. The L-threo isomer does not inhibit the growth of P. ultimum.

The mitochondria of Rhodotorula glutinis show a progressive disorganization when grown in the presence of increasing concentrations of D-threo chloramphenicol up to 1000 μg/ml. There is an associated over synthesis of cell wall material in the higher concentrations of the antibiotic. The L-threo isomer produces no obvious fine structural abnormalities even at concentrations of 1000 μg/ml.