Brefeldin A has been recently characterized to act as an inhibitor of intracellular protein export with profound effects on the structure and function of the Golgi apparatus in animal cells. Manifold activities of the antibiotic (under different names) published in the 1960's and 1970's are reviewed: effects on fungal growth and morphogenesis, inhibition of mitosis in plant cells, cytotoxicity, cancerostatic, antiviral and antinematodal activity and peculiar effects on DNA, RNA and protein synthesis in microbial and animal cells.

• MeSH
• Antifungal Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Antinematodal Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Antiviral Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Brefeldin A MeSH
• Cyclopentanes pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic pharmacology   MeSH
• Plants drug effects   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antifungal Agents MeSH
• Antinematodal Agents MeSH
• Antiviral Agents MeSH
• Brefeldin A MeSH
• Cyclopentanes MeSH
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic MeSH

Numerous antibodies with a known mechanism of action are utilized as possible means for studying morphogenesis and differentiation. Inhibitors of biosynthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, compounds intervening with the synthesis and/or function of cell walls and membranes or compounds influencing the energy metabolism are particularly useful. The use of antibiotics for studies of the life cycle of viruses, bacteria, fungi, myxomycetes, protozoa and algae is analyzed in the present communication. Certain aspects of morphogenesis and functions of mitochondria and plastids were clarified with the aid of antibiotics. Relationships between production of antibiotics and differentiation of their producers are discussed in the final part of the paper.

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents biosynthesis   pharmacology   MeSH
• Bacteria growth & development   MeSH
• Chloroplasts physiology   MeSH
• Eukaryota growth & development   MeSH
• Fungi growth & development   MeSH
• Mitochondria physiology   MeSH
• Morphogenesis MeSH
• Organoids physiology   MeSH
• Spores, Fungal physiology   MeSH
• Viruses growth & development   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH

The mycelium of Trichoderma viride grown in the dark under submerged conditions and transferred to membrane filters sporulated only after photoinduction. The optimum photoinduction of sporulation was reached when applying daylight for 3 min and near ultraviolet radiation (355 nm) for 10 to 30 sec. After the photoinduction probounced synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein was observed. The photoinduced sporulation was partially or fully inhibited in the presence of phenethyl alcohol, actinomycin D, 5-fluorouracil, cycloheximide and ethidium bromide. The same inhibitors blocked also the photoinduced sporulation of surface growing colonies of Trichoderma viride. Various inhibitiors of synthesis of nucleic acids and protein, inhibitors impairing the function of membranes and certain other compounds were also effective.

• MeSH
• Antifungal Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Cycloheximide pharmacology   MeSH
• Dactinomycin pharmacology   MeSH
• DNA biosynthesis   MeSH
• Ethidium pharmacology   MeSH
• Phenylethyl Alcohol pharmacology   MeSH
• Fluorouracil pharmacology   MeSH
• Fungal Proteins biosynthesis   MeSH
• Mitosporic Fungi growth & development   MeSH
• RNA biosynthesis   MeSH
• Spores, Fungal drug effects   growth & development   MeSH
• Light * MeSH
• Trichoderma drug effects   growth & development   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antifungal Agents MeSH
• Cycloheximide MeSH
• Dactinomycin MeSH
• DNA MeSH
• Ethidium MeSH
• Phenylethyl Alcohol MeSH
• Fluorouracil MeSH
• Fungal Proteins MeSH
• RNA MeSH

The effect of antibiotics and metabolic inhibitors on mycelial growth of Botrytis cinera was followed. Inhibitors of protein synthesis, chloramphenicol, erythromycin and tetracycline inhibit growth or sporulation of Botrytis cinera. Ethidium bromide, 5-fluorouracil, phenylethylalcohol and K 20 cause granulation, vacuolization and undulation of hyphase. 2,4-Dinitrophenol, boromycin, macrotetrolides, monensin, scopathricin and TX2 at subfungistatic concentrations induce intensive branching of hyphal tips i.e. at the site of synthesis of the cell wall. In older hyphase grown in the absence of the antibiotics the branching begins after their addition, particularly in the septum region. When comparing the results referred to here with those obtained previously and on the basis of literature data it may be assumed that the changes in polarity of growth of Botrytis cinerea might be caused primarily or secondarily by impairing membrane functions and formation of cell walls.

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Antimetabolites pharmacology   MeSH
• Cell Wall drug effects   MeSH
• Mitosporic Fungi drug effects   growth & development   MeSH
• Spores, Fungal growth & development   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
• Antimetabolites MeSH

Colonial growth of Neurospora sitophila phenotypically induced by ramihyphin A is accompanied by marked changes in the contents of DNA, RNA and proteins in the mycelium, and in the relative proportion of hexoses in cell wall hydrolysates. The glucosamine/glucose ratio is also characteristic for colonial growth. X-ray analysis of cell walls showed that ramilhyphin A suppresses the crystalline arrangement of chitin in cell walls. A combination of microbiological, biochemical and physico-chemical methods yielded a general picture of the changes accompanying the colonial growth of Neurospora sitophila.

• MeSH
• Antifungal Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Cell Wall metabolism   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Chitin biosynthesis   MeSH
• DNA biosynthesis   MeSH
• Fungal Proteins biosynthesis   MeSH
• Hexosamines biosynthesis   MeSH
• Hexoses biosynthesis   MeSH
• Crystallography MeSH
• Neurospora growth & development   metabolism   ultrastructure   MeSH
• RNA biosynthesis   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antifungal Agents MeSH
• Chitin MeSH
• DNA MeSH
• Fungal Proteins MeSH
• Hexosamines MeSH
• Hexoses MeSH
• RNA MeSH