Nonspecificity of some commonly used inhibitors of DNA synthesis in cultures of Streptococcus faecalis.

The specificity of three commonly used inhibitors of DNA synthesis were tested in the batch culture of Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 8043 in rich broth medium. It was shown that nalidixic acid, mitomycin C and 6-(4-hydroxyphenylazo)uracil inhibit the growth of the cell mass as much as they decrease net DNA synthesis. Hence the drugs tested are highly unspecific inhibitors of DNA synthesis in S. faecalis; i.e. they all interfere with other processes as well as with DNA synthesis.