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Reversal of o-Nitrobenzoic Acid Inhibition of Microbial Growth by Amino-Acids

Nature volume 197, pages 210–211 (1963)Cite this article

Abstract

SEVERAL benzene derivatives reportedly inhibit microbial growth by blocking essential metabolic reactions but, in some instances, the site of inhibition has not been established. High concentrations of p-aminobonzoic acid inhibit certain bacteria1,2 and the bacteriostatic activity toward Escherichia coli strain W is reversed by p-hydroxybenzoic acid and, to a limited extent, by shikimic acid or 5-dehydroshikimic acid1. p-Aminobenzoic acid also suppresses growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. which can be reversed by aromatic amino-acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan3. Utilization of p-aminobenzoic acid as an oxidizable substrate by a Flavobacterium4 is competitively inhibited by p-aminosalicylic acid5, and it has been suggested that p-aminosalicylic acid competes with the substrate for the specific transport mechanism(s)6.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

    JERRY J. KIRKLAND & NORMAN N. DURHAM

Authors
  1. JERRY J. KIRKLAND
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  2. NORMAN N. DURHAM
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KIRKLAND, J., DURHAM, N. Reversal of o-Nitrobenzoic Acid Inhibition of Microbial Growth by Amino-Acids. Nature 197, 210–211 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/197210a0

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