Effect of neomycin on glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol system of Tetrahymena.

Neomycin does not inhibit but increases the incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylinositols of Tetrahymena. This elevation is due to neomycin inhibition on the turnover of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) system. Neomycin also prevents the synthesis of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI). These experiments draw attention to the inhibitory effect of neomycin both on GPI synthesis and PI turnover, and the connection between these systems. An explanation for the inhibitory effect of neomycin on hormonal imprinting is discussed.