Abstract
The mechanism of action of sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate (NaDMDC) was examined by using Xanthomonas oryzae, the causal pathogen of bacterial leaf blight on rice plant. The result showed that NaDMDC inhibited selectively the incorporation of 14C-acetate into the lipids of X. oryzae, and this inhibition was exerted more strongly when the cells were active in metabolism. Also, NaDMDC inhibited nonspecifically the incorporation of radioactive precursors into all lipid components of cells. In the phosphatidylethanolamine from 14C-glucose labeled cells, labeling of the fatty acid constituent, rather than the glycerlyphosphorylethanolamine constituent, was markedly inhibited by NaDMDC. However, NaDMDC did not inhibit the incorporation of radioactive long-chain fatty acids into the phospholipids of cells. These results suggested that the process from long-chain fatty acids to phospholipids was not affected by NaDMDC. Thus, the primary action of NaDMDC may be involved in the fatty acid synthesis of X. oryzae.
