Effects of phenethyl alcohol treatment upon the folded chromosome of Escherichia coli.

Abstract

Treatment of strains of Escherichia coli with 0.25 % phenethyl alcohol resulted in a reversible inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell division. Comparisons of sedimentation behavior for nucleoids isolated prior to and following phenethyl alcohol exposure indicated a dramatic increase in sedimentation velocity, from 3,220 S to 11,770 S. However, following extended phenethyl alcohol exposure, nucleoid sedimentation velocities began to decline spontaneously and to approach that of nucleoids obtained from untreated cultures. Following removal of phenethyl alcohol, DNA synthesis and cell division resumed and nucleoid sedimentation velocities returned to that of controls. Analysis of nucleoids isolated from phenethyl alcohol treated cultures demonstrated the presence of high levels of cosedimenting membrane proteins, indicating that nucleoids were not released from the membrane even though DNA synthesis had terminated. Results are discussed in relation to previously reported phenethyl alcohol-induced perturbations of various cellular processes.

Flavouring Group Evaluation 53, Revision 1 (FGE.53Rev1): Consideration of phenethyl alcohol, aldehyde, acid and related acetals and esters evaluated by JECFA (59th meeting) and structurally related to phenethyl alcohol, aldehyde, esters and related phenylacetic acid esters evaluated by EFSA in FGE.14Rev1 (2009) and one phenoxyethyl ester evaluated in FGE.23Rev1 (2008)

“…In another assay, 200-1600 µg per plate of ethyl phenylacetate showed no evidence of mutagenicity when incubated with E. coli WP2uvrA (Yoo, 1986). The contradictory results reported by Yoo (Yoo, 1986) and Oda et al (Oda et al, 1979), the negative result in the WP2 uvrA strain and the fact that phenethyl alcohol is bactericidal in E. coli (Treick & Konetzka, 1964;Brunner & Treick, 1982) support the conclusion that the results with B. subtilis H17 and M45 should not be used in the overall assessment of the genotoxic potential of these substances.…”