Effect of ethidium bromide on the oxidative metabolism and enzyme profiles of Crithidia fasciculata.

Changes in the metabolism of Crithidia fasciculata ATCC 11745 when grown in the presence of ethidium bromide were studied. Ethidium bromide-grown cells had decreased respiratory activity as measured by oxygen consumption. More than 50% of the organisms cultivated in a defined medium containing 1.0 mg/liter of ethidium bromide became dyskinetoplastic and had decreased activities of particulate succinate and NADH-linked dehydrogenases as well as of soluble isocitrate dehydrogenase. These cells also had increased activities of particulate alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, soluble alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, hexokinase, and malate dehydrogenase. Ethidium bromide-grown cells had a lower level of ATP and contained less DNA than cells grown in its absence.