The effect of trans-[Rh(4-ethylpyridine)4Cl2]Cl x 2H2O on nucleic acid and protein syntheses in Escherichia coli.

The effect of the transition metal compound trans-[Rh(4-ethylpyridine)4Cl2]Cl x 2H2O on the syntheses of DNA, RNA, and protein has been investigated for an auxotrophic bacterial strain, Escherichia coli JS-1, incapable of thymidine, uridine, and histidine syntheses. At low concentration (7.4 x 10(-6) M), this rhodium complex interferes with normal cell division and induces the formation of filaments comparable to those observed in the presence of the cis-(NH3)2PtClx antitumour agents. Once the suppressed growth rate of the filamenting cells has been taken into account, the rhodium compound is found not to alter macromolecular synthesis. Again this is consistent with similar observations made for the platinum compounds.