THE ACTION MECHANISM OF BREFELDIN A

I. GROWTH RECOVERY OF CANDIDA ALBICANS BY LIPIDS FROM THE ACTION OF BREFELDIN A

Abstract

Brefeldin A is an antifungal antibiotic and a fatty acid derivative biosynthesized from palmitate (C₁₆). The action mechanism of the antibiotic was studied using Candida albicans IAM 4888, the most sensitive strain tested. The antifungal activity was reversed to some extent by a variety of fatty acids (C₁₀-C₁₄), fatty alcohols (C₁₀-C₁₄) and iso-prenoids such as ergosterol and geraniol. However, amino acids and nucleosides were ineffective in reversing the antifungal activity. The results suggest that the antibiotic growth inhibition is due to the inhibition or disturbance of lipid metabolism.