The bactericidal activity of Tinopal AN [1,1-bis(3,N-5-dimethyl-benzoxazol-2-yl)-methine p-toluene sulphonate] was shown to be due to a mechanism entirely independent of its inhibitory effects upon NADH dehydrogenase which were reported previously. Whereas the compound had no significant effect upon DNA synthesis in Escherichia coli D22, RNA and protein synthesis were immediately and markedly inhibited. In confirmation, Tinopal AN caused an immediate cessation in inducible beta-galactosidase synthesis in the same organism. An in vitro assay of the transcription of calf-thymus DNA by purified E. coli RNA polymerase showed that this process was inhibited by Tinopal AN.