Studies of the antibacterial effect of the scandium complex of enterochelin.

The scandium complex of enterochelin is known to be assimilated and degraded by enterobacterial pathogens, liberating intracellular scandium. Macromolecular synthesis was inhibited in the order RNA, protein, DNA and phospholipid. Some component of heat-inactivated serum acts in concert with the complex inducing RNA degradation and killing. Both processes are inhibited by dinitrophenol. These biochemical changes resemble those found during complement mediated killing. An examination of the effect on synchronously growing cells suggests that the complex may exert its primary effect during the initiation of chromosome replication.