A set of n-alkyl esters of N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG-n) and their methobromides (DMGM-n) was synthesized, and their activities on yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were compared. The compounds differ in the number of carbon atoms in the aliphatic chain. Aminoesters with 12 carbon atoms appeared to be most active. Unlike quaternary ammonium salts previously tested, the activities of the compounds were not pH-dependent; the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were identical at pH 8 and at pH 6. In contrast to quaternary ammonium salts, aminoesters showed similar effects on respiratory sufficient (rho+) and respiratory deficient (rho0) mutants. When tested on glucose stimulated proton extrusion, aminoesters applied at MIC increased external pH. Aminoesters inhibited the plasma membrane H+-ATPase, whereas they were less inhibitory on the mitochondrial ATPase. In order to further compare the aminoesters and their corresponding quaternary ammonium salts, derivatives of N,N-dimethylalanine (DMAL-n and DMALM-n, respectively) were synthesized. The quaternary ammonium salts appeared to have a higher inhibitory potency than aminoesters, especially at pH 8, and alanine derivatives inhibited growth at a lower concentration than glycine derivatives. Both alanine derivatives of the aminoester and the quaternary ammonium salt inhibited the plasma membrane H+- ATPase at lower concentrations than glycine derivatives, but the alanine aminoester was without a detectable effect on the mitochondrial ATPase.