Accumulation of 14C-Streptomycin by Streptomycin-sensitive and Streptomycin-resistant Group H Streptococci

Three streptomycin-resistant mutants of group H streptococcus, strain Challis, were examined for ability to accumulate ¹⁴C-streptomycin. Although the mutants exhibited different levels of transformation, only the streptomycin-sensitive parent Challis strain accumulated significant amounts of ¹⁴C-streptomycin. It appears that impermeability to streptomycin does not necessarily result in reduction or loss of transformability. The amount of label accumulated by strain Challis was correlated with a loss of viability. In addition, accumulation of label was influenced by the concentration of ¹⁴C-streptomycin, the time of exposure, and the type of medium employed.