Antimicrobial action of dodecyldiethanolamine: activation of ribonuclease I in Escherichia coli.

Treatment of Escherichia coli with the antimicrobial agent N-dodecyldiethanolamine results in damage to the cytoplasmic membrane and rapid release of components of the metabolic pool. A slower secondary release then takes place. The material in the secondary release contains mainly low molecular compounds, nucleotides and nucleosides derived from the breakdown of ribosomal RNA. Some transfer RNA is also released. Breakdown of RNA occurs as a result of activation of the 'latent' ribonuclease I. Breakdown is inhibited by the ribonuclease inhibitors Ca2+ and Mg2+ and does not occur in a ribonuclease I-deficient strain of E. coli.