Abstract
WE reported earlier that high concentrations of chloramphenicol impair certain energy-linked functions of mitochondria1,2. The experiments were carried out with the D-threo isomer (the antibiotic) which effectively blocks protein synthesis in bacteria3. Of principal interest is the suppression of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation. If these effects are produced in vivo, it cannot be assumed that responses produced in tissue by D-threo-chloramphenicol are necessarily related to inhibition of protein synthesis. This is not to deny that protein synthesis can be blocked; but it becomes essential that the investigator establishes that impairment of phosphorylation is not also, or even primarily, involved whenever concentrations of the order of 0.5 mg/ml. or greater are used.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Hanson, J. B., and Hodges, T. K., Nature, 200, 1009 (1963).
Stoner, C. D., Hodges, T. K., and Hanson, J. B., Nature, 203, 258 (1964).
Rendi, R., and Ochoa, S., J. Biol. Chem., 237, 3711 (1962).
Ellis, R. J., Nature, 200, 596 (1963).
Billet, F. S., Collini, R., and Hamilton, I., J. Embryol. Exp. Morphol., 13, 341 (1965).
Ronnicke, F., Physiol. Plant., 11, 421 (1958).
Stoner, C. D., thesis, Univ. Illinois, (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
HANSON, J., KRUEGER, W. Impairment of Oxidative Phosphorylation by D-threo- and L-threo-Chloramphenicol. Nature 211, 1322 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/2111322a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2111322a0
This article is cited by
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.