Expression of the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin-B-resistance methylase gene, ermE, from Streptomyces erythraeus in Escherichia coli results in N6-monomethylation and N6,N6-dimethylation of ribosomal RNA.
The ermE gene was cloned from Streptomyces erythraeus into Escherichia coli on a series of plasmids. When transcribed from the lac promoter, ermE conferred high-level resistance to erythromycin and other macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin-B (MLS) antibiotics. A methylase activity capable of N6-mono- and N6,N6-dimethylation of adenine residues in E. coli rRNA was detected in extracts of MLS-resistant cells. In addition, rRNA extracted from MLS-resistant E. coli contained N6-mono- and N6,N6-dimethylated adenine residues.
D000225:Adenine / Q000378:metabolism; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055231:Lincosamides; D018942:Macrolides; D008745:Methylation; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D014769:Virginiamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012359:tRNA Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D055231:Lincosamides; D018942:Macrolides; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014769:Virginiamycin; D004917:Erythromycin; D012359:tRNA Methyltransferases; D000225:Adenine