In vivo and in vitro effects of rifampicin and streptolydigin on transcription of Kluyveromyces lactis in the presence of nystatin.

Rifampicin and streptolydigin, if used in conjunction with nystatin, depress the growth of Kluyveromyces lactis. The incorporation of labeled leucine into protein is inhibited by nystatin whereas the incorporation of labeled uracil into RNA is inhibited by rifampicin in nystatin-treated cells. In order to study the mechanism of inhibition of RNA synthesis we purified by DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography four forms of RNA polymerase from K.lactis cells. The general properties of these enyzmes are similar to those of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and of other eukaryotic RNA polymerases. In particular, enzymes IA, IB and III are more active with poly[d(A-T)] template and Mn-2+ than with native or denatured calf thymus DNA. Enzyme II shows optimal activity with denatured calf thymus DNA and Mn2+. When challenged with native calf thymus DNA all enzymes prefer Mg-2+ as a divalent cation whereas with denatured calf thymus DNA all enzymes are more active with Mn-2+. Enzyme II is inhibited by lambda-amanitin but no enzyme is sensitive to rifampicin and streptolydigin. The inhibition of growth and uracil uptake observed when rifampicin is added to nystatin treated cells is probably not caused by a specific inhibition of transcription.