Effect of bisquaternary ammonium salts on growth and metabolic processes of Enterobacter cloacae

The present investigation screened two homologous series: A - 1,11[bis(alkyldimethyldiammonium)]-4,7-dioxo-3,8-dioxaundecanedibromides and B - alpha,omega-[bis(dodecyldimethyldiammonium)]-3,x-dioxo-4,y-dioxaalkanedibromides on growth, synthesis of macromolecules and respiration of Enterobacter cloacae. The substances tested, with changing side chain (series A), expressed dependence of the effect on processes studied on the length of alkyl, the so-called "cut-off" effect. This effect was not found in the series B, where the length of the joining chain between two polar parts of the molecule, at the constant aliphatic chain was changed. Compounds of both groups studied inhibited the synthesis of nucleic acids more than proteosynthesis, what was indicated by the ratio of IC(50) adenine and IC(50) leucine values.