Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide in tubercle bacilli exposed to isoniazid.

ABSTRACT

There is a decrease in the content of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide of tubercle bacilli grown in the presence of isoniazid. In extracts of tubercle bacilli, the activity of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotidase is nil or very small; after incubation with the drug the enzyme becomes active. Isoniazid also increases the activity of the enzyme after it is partially activated by heating. There may be a correlation between the capacity of isoniazid to activate the enzyme and the decrease in the dinucleotide content of the tubercle bacilli.